march - july 2018

note from me:

hello, dear reading friends!!!

for over 12+ years, it has been a joy to share all my five star picks with you!!! together we have read thousands of books and shared our favorites with the women in our life. so i'm very sad to say that this will be my last post as a blogger here. we're moving in a few short days (imagine how crazy it's been to sort, pack, read, post my review and repeat!) and for the past year, i've started a new career that involves working with children with special needs. it's incredibly challenging, draining and yet, exhilarating at the same time! this season of life has taught me that i can't do it all while being a mom and wife, too.

thank you for reading with me, sharing your comments, encouragements and prayer requests!!! as always, i want to encourage you to keep reading but don't forget to engage with the people God has placed in your life to minister to!!! people matter.

i'll end this note with my favorite verses from jeremiah 29:11-14a. read it. share it. live it.

blessings, love & happy reading!!!

susan, your reading mom
jer. 29:11

fiction:

hands down, this was one of the most powerful stories i have ever read and you're definitely going to need a box of kleenexes near by! before i saw you by amy k. sorrells explores heart issues such as the opiate crisis, challenging home environments, the death of a sibling, unexpected pregnancies, incarcerated parents and more. jaycee givens is a character you can't help but love! she loves her baby brother and she loves helping her neighbor rehab wildlife around them. although she's gone through more heartache than any child should go through, you still see the hand of God in her life. sorrells paints a message of grace and hope despite the messiness of jaycee's life. this story is a perfect fit for your reading group with discussion questions in the back of the book. find out what's coming up next for amy k. sorrels by checking out her website at www.amyksorrells.com.

trish bailey and her mom's life changed when a tractor trailer crashed into their vehicle two years ago. both women lost their spouses and trish's mom was critically injured. trish made the decision to move home and care for her mom who had a stroke and she's in no hurry to find romance again despite her mom's recent not-so-subtle attempts to play matchmaker. matt parker is the accountant for her parent's charitable foundation and came highly recommended by their pastor, but trish isn't feeling the connection! when her mom is found dead over suspicious circumstances after her last date with matt, trish is interviewed by detective colin flynn of the crimes against persons bureau.  detective flynn begins to investigate and realizes there's something sinister at hand and trish bailey may be in danger. dangerous illusions is the the first installment of irene hannon's series code of honor and readers will discover that there's more than meets the eye. to learn more about irene hannon, visit her at www.irenehannon.com.

fans of author madeleine l'engle are going to appreciate the day the angels fell by shawn smucker. written in the voice of twelve-year-old samuel chambers, readers will be drawn into the day he stumbles upon three old women dressed like gypsies and the message they leave behind... find the tree of life. samuel and his best friend, abra embark on a quest and you'll be drawn to the lessons they learn while they search for the one thing samuel hopes will bring his mother back. look for smucker's next book coming this summer and learn more about him online at www.shawnsmucker.com.

two women. many centuries apart. one ring and one faith. in this time slip novel by heidi chiavaroli, freedom's ring, you'll meet annie david, a survivor of the boston marathon bombing in 2015 and liberty caldwell, a survivor of the boston massacre. both women go through a tremendous amount of pain and learn to face their fears as they grow their faith. annie david never expected a stranger's ring to mean so much to her. when she meets brad kilroy for the second time, she learns that the ring belonged to his family for generations. the mystery of the ring and it's latin inscription spur annie and brad to uncover the mystery of the ring's original owner. this sweet story is a reminder that love and faith will get you through the storms of life. to learn more about chiavaroli, go to her website at www.heidichiavaroli.com.

fbi special agent kord davidson has a problem. he has to work with an operative from the cia when there's an assassination attempt on saudi prince omar bin tall who is visiting houston to seek cancer treatment for his mother. neither have a choice in the decision and together, they have to put aside their differences. in high treason, the 3rd book in the fbi task force series by diann mills, readers, you're going to be on the edge of your seat following kord and monica as they try to hunt down the assassin who seems to always be one step ahead of them! more on best-selling and award-winning author diann mills can be found here at www.diannmills.com.

charming is a great way to describe the town of harbor pointe, michigan but for olympian skier grady benson, it's a forgettable town he's stuck in for five weeks to complete his community service sentence. in just let go you'll meet quinn collins, the newest business owner of a flower shop she's had a history with as long as she can remember.  the last thing in the world she needs is to babysit an arrogant olympian who's been assigned to her to fulfill his community service hours. quinn has her hands full trying to prepare for the launch of her shop's opening day, the town's annual harbor pointe winter carnival and her floral designs for the michigan floral expo competition! i loved reading this one!!! just let go by courtney walsh highlights the beauty of family, friendships and second chances. fans of walsh can visit her online at www.courtneywalshwrites.com.

kelsey allen wants to launch her own security business but she needs to clear her name and her father's name. she hopes to prove herself while going undercover as a conservator at the museum while testing their security system. while there, maybe she can look into the art theft accusations against her father who disappeared when she was a young child. it's a win win, right?!? it is until she gets shot at! in justice buried (part of a series called a memphis cold case novel) by patricia bradley, you will find spine-tingling suspense, unexpected twists and turns, murder and plenty of suspects! it's a race against time before someone else gets hurt. you can go to www.ptbradley.com to learn more about patricia bradley.

imagine waking up and finding yourself strapped down in a hospital where your blood is being drawn. that's what happened to nick reese in the nephilim virus by john t. prather. nick wakes up from a coma and discovers the world as he knew it changed. people have been exposed to a blood-borne virus and a cure hasn't been discovered... yet. it's up to nick, his hematologist named faith and a man called the commander to survive while being hunted by the infected. this story is a blend of science fiction and reminds me of an allegory. you can get more information on the author (he's a model and an actor) by going to www.johntprather.com.

once he gets his half of his mother's estate, liam berne will be ready to begin a new life. he's going to quit his current dead end job and start his own business. he's got it all planned out and no one will know what happened to his mother after her body is recovered from the sure foot river. alzheimer's has changed his once vivacious and engaging mom into a woman who is fearful, confused and forgetful, so ending her life is the most merciful thing to do. although liam has taken care to cover his tracks, he overlooked one minor detail... a twelve-year old eye witness. only by death is the second book in best-selling suspense novelist kathy herman's series ozark mountain trilogy where her characters struggle with life issues that threaten their faith in God. herman's characters are both authentic and endearing (especially jesse!) and you'll fall in love with the residents of foggy ridge, too! you can learn more about herman on her website at www.kathyherman.com.

when hawk cummings ignores his conscience and lies to his family and girlfriend, the consequences of his choices brings danger to the front doors of the angel view lodge. again. once again, kate and her husband elliot along with kate's children must depend on their faith in God to get them through some suspenseful and dangerous times. in a treacherous mix, the finale of her series ozark mountain trilogy, kathy herman paints a vivid picture of how the devil can get a foothold in our lives when we allow deceit to come in and choose to ignore the power of God's Word as our moral compass. hawk cummings learns this firsthand when he falls for a vulnerable and beautiful woman who will mysteriously disappear without a trace one afternoon. readers get to see the painful consequences of his actions and how it affects every member of their family and even beyond hawk's community. don't miss the insightful "a note from the author" and the discussion questions (this one is a perfect choice for your book club!!!) in the afterwords section after page 372. look for this edge-of-your-seat read coming your way in august!!!

you are going to love this latest regency romance like i did from best-selling author carolyn miller! in winning miss winthrop, you'll meet a cast of characters who will win your heart (and some not so much!!!)! three years ago, catherine winthrop was in love with a gentleman beneath her station. but one day, everything changes and catherine's heart is left in pieces. then unfortunate circumstances bring the two back into each other's lives and catherine must learn to navigate her new station in life while watching her former love from afar. this charming story is engaging with hilariously witty dialogue, colorful characters, lovely clothing and gossip (!) that will transport you back to 1816! winning miss winthrop is the first volume in miller's new series, regency brides: a promise of hope. to learn more about what's next from carolyn miller, visit www.carolynmillerauthor.com.

non-fiction:

aching joy: following God through the land of unanswered prayer by jason hague is an authentic look at what he's learned from God through parenting his son with severe autism. if you've ever experienced the difficulty of navigating life in the midst of unanswered prayers, then you'll find renewed hope in your challenges.  i loved the stories of struggle hague shares with his readers and i think his message in aching joy will resonate with you, too. visit www.jasonhague.com to learn more.

a call to love: preparing your heart & soul for adoption by julie holmquist offers insight from scripture, personal experiences, stories from other adoptive parents and resources. holmquist reminds couples waiting to adopt or in the midst of  adoption that God's provision and a community of friends, family and professionals are vital in this journey. once i started reading, i couldn't put this book down. julie and her husband's stories of the struggles and joys of parenting two siblings from russia brought tears to my eyes. their story gave me fresh perspective on the hurdles many families go through and the calling required in the adoption journey. learn more about julie holmquist's story at www.julieholmquist.com.

courage, dear friend: letters to a weary world by rebecca reynolds intrigued me when i first started reading this to review for you. reynolds seeks to give three gifts to her readers - gifts that she needed during her times of weariness. the gifts are words, presence and hope and as you read through this series of letters for anyone who is feeling lonely, weary, discouraged and fearful, you'll get the importance of her gifts. i love the fictional retelling of leah and rachel's story and all the different personal stories reynolds uses to reiterate biblical truth to let readers know they have value and are not forgotten. you're going to love her gentle style of storytelling like i did. for more on rebecca reynolds and her writing, visit www.thistleandtoad.com.

eternity is now in session: a radical rediscovery of what Jesus really taught about salvation, eternity, and getting to the good place by john ortberg is engaging and thought-provoking. ortberg reminds Christ-followers that "following Jesus is not a static religious identity but a dynamic calling that constantly invigorates and challenges us." (pg.48)  in his book, he also points out that being a Christ-follower is more that just trying to satisfy the minimum requirements of our faith. ortberg gives a great example on page 29 on the consequences of his wedding day if he had asked his bride, "what's the absolute least i can do to stay married to you? what's the lowest level of commitment, the fewest affirmations, the smallest promises, the highest level of ignorance permissible? what are the minimum requirements for maintaining my husband status?" this is a book that will definitely challenge Christ-followers to go and make disciples and live out our faith!
visit john ortberg at his website at www.johnortberg.com.

the faith of dolly parton: lessons from her life to lift your heart by award-winning writer dudley delffs seamlessly weaves life lessons from dolly parton and how she inspired delffs in his own life story. at the end of every chapter, you'll find questions based on the contents of that chapter that will challenge you and maybe even push you out of your comfort zone along with a prayer. at the time delffs wrote the book, he hadn't met dolly personally - i'm hoping that has changed by now!

feisty & feminine: a rallying cry for conservative women by penny young nance challenges readers to  "understand how they can stand up, be heard and make a difference in our culture." i love how nance points out that we are facing an "esther moment" when our voice needs to be heard over issues that are relevant in our culture. she challenges that our message must always be redemptive and gives insight on what "esther women" can do on very specific relevant issues. nance writes with authority and comes across very personable and passionate. i like that you can read about other women who are making a difference in today's world (i loved reading about women like lila rose, crystal macias and jeanne mancini!). i feel strongly that every women should read this book because it's time we took a stand for our beliefs and values. penny young nance is the coo and president of concerned women for america. learn more by visiting www.concernedwomen.org.

fierce faith: a woman's guide to fighting fear, wrestling worry, and overcoming anxiety by alli worthington is a must read for you. worthington writes in a personable style that is easy to read and very relatable. she shares her story honestly and writes from a heart of love and care. in here, she examines eight types of fear that any woman can relate to. then she uses biblical illustrations and gives practical insight along with relevant examples on how to fight it and overcome! it's a journey towards healing and the "battle plan" beginning on page 205 can be dowloaded! you gotta love that!!! go to www.alliworthington.com/fivebadbs to learn more.

fledge: launching your kids without losing your mind by brenda l. yoder helps prepare parents and their families in the stage of life where they release their children into the future God has planned for them. yoder points out that God's blueprint for the family is in the bible and so focuses on psalm 127 (and other Scripture) as she uses biblical wisdom and her own experience to help parents navigate the transition to launch their children well. yoder offers helpful explanations on various parenting relationships as well as taking a look at specific unhealthy and healthy parenting themes. there are questions to review after every chapter and practical advice, strategies and wisdom for every parent! i really like that yoder doesn't forget families of children with special needs. check out the appendix beginning on page 235. find out more at www.brendayoder.com.

HIStory in 30 days: genesis to revelation by carole o. schryber is an incredible resource with daily devotions that highlights the overall redemption plan of God in scripture. this book is not only for christians but for non-christians. schryber points out that "every foretelling about the lineage, birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ the Savior can be traced and is fulfilled in the sixty-six books of the Bible." be sure to check out the appendix (pp. 127-132) for additional resource. you can check out schryber's weekly blog at www.caroleschryber.com.

holy in the moment: simple ways to love God and enjoy your life by ginger harrington brings the topic of holiness into our modern world. how can we be holy in this day and age and how can we develop holy habits? these are just a few of the topics that harrington addresses. she authentically shares her own stories, biblical insights and offers practical steps in choosing to embrace holiness. the lesson i walked away with is that faith and holiness are an intentional choice. meet harrington at www.gingerharrington.com.

joey: how a blind rescue horse helped others learn to see by jennifer marshall bleakley is a story of hope and healing. a rescue group found joey nearly dead from starvation and blind after moving from one owner to the next. he was brought to hope reins - a ranch dedicating to helping hurting children who had been abused, emotionally wounded or unwanted. i love how the staff at hope reins teaches children that they are not forgotten by God! author and grief counselor jennifer bleakley writes stories of hope. visit her online at www.jenniferbleakley.com.

in keep christ-ianity weird: embracing the discipline of being different by michael frost, followers of Jesus are challenged to live out romans 12:2. frost shares stories and examples from scripture to demonstrate how followers of Jesus live their faith in the midst of the changing culture. you'll get a better understanding of what paul meant when he said "be transformed by the renewing of our mind" in romans 12. i love the prayer at the end of this book (pp. 188-190)! you can read more about michael frost and his writings at www.michaelfrost.net.

people are good: 100 true stories to restore your faith in humanity by annamarie mchargue is an encouraging book to lift you up! reading through this collection of stories will remind you that small acts of kindness can make a huge impact on your outlook! i love that these stories are shared by people from all walks of life in different states. learn more by visiting www.wordswithsisters.com.

restore: break out of your past and into God's future by vince antonucci is an insightful book (while being hilarious!) that is written honestly and boldly. i have to confess that i loved reading his "top ten" lists that are scattered throughout the book! if you're feeling "stuck"and want to get past it, apply these principles from scripture that antonucci shares here and learn how you can overcome setbacks. you'll find scripture, principles to apply, stories and examples of people living today who have broken free from the hurt of their past. find out more about vince antonucci at www.vinceantonucci.com!

seeking a familiar face: the transformational journey of connecting with God by may patterson was actually birthed from a Bible study she wrote about "seeking God." i learned that the bible includes over 50 references to "seeking God." in this book, you will find practical ideas for seeking God, a "seek and find" section in every chapter which you can use for guided journaling ideas or questions with a small group and much more. i like how patterson chooses 10 biblical characters (like king josiah, moses, mary of bethany and others) with engaging fictionalized narratives to demonstrate the impact of seeking God in their lives. visit may patterson on her blog at www.maypatterson.com.

shaped notes: how ordinary people with extraordinary gifts influenced my life and career by larnelle harris with christine schaub is a great read on one of my favorite artists whom i used to play on my afternoon radio show! i love reading the back story of influential people! this is a feel good read about a young boy who overcame his background to become one of the most award-winning and amazing tenor voice of all times. be inspired and check out www.larnelle.com.

suddenly single: rebuilding your life after divorce by kathryn batey is a helpful resource to help men and women in this new season of life. i like that you can also find companion resources such as suddenly single journal: processing your first year after divorce and a suddenly single workbook: building your future after divorce by batey, too. batey has been there once, twenty-one years ago and  her compassion and care come through her writing. she gives advice on determining boundaries and getting a healthy mind-set, she helps readers in thinking through their thought process and she shows readers how to find hope and find support. Batey covers issues from dealing with anger, forming your network of experts, how your past affects you, decisions about the children to courage for the journey.

talking about God: honest conversations about spirituality by steve & cheri saccone demonstrates how spiritual conversations can impact one's faith journey. in this one, you'll find stories where you'll get to peek in and eavesdrop on conversations that draw people to Christ. saccone share their observations about these conversations and remind us that the results can only be left to God.

january - february 2018

note from me:

hello & happy 2018, dear reading friend!!!

where has all the time gone?!? i started writing before midnight but by the time i'm ready to post this blog, it will officially be march 1! i started subbing regularly at my son's school since the beginning of the school year and boy, has my life ever changed! some of the children have definitely stolen my heart while others have stolen... my sanity! life will never be the same again!!! i will say that trying to keep up with regular life stuff has been more challenging but thank God for his faithfulness and mercies---they are new every morning (lamentations 3:22-23).

how are things with you? i can't wait for you to check out my five star reviews today and i hope you will find some things to read that really resonate with you!!! as always, thank you for sharing this resource with the women in your life!!! let me know how i can pray for you, okay? you can always email me with your prayer requests or comments at thereadingmom@gmail.com.

as you go about your day, remember that God created you for a purpose. you are loved and you are enough.

blessings & happy reading!!!

susan, your reading mom
jer. 29:11




fiction:

inspirational regency romance author carolyn miller has done it again. you'll love her latest, the dishonorable miss delancey: a legacy of grace, book 3 in her regency brides series where the story begins on a dark and stormy night! it's 1815 and captain benjamin richmond kemsley is intrigued by the mystery lady he encountered at the edge of the clifftop. he's recovering from a heroic act while at sea and his lovely family is protective of him during his stay. meanwhile, the honorable miss clara delancey is trying to redeem herself from the scandal that caused her to flee london. her mother desperately wants her to marry for money and endlessly searches for opportunities to showcase her talent. clara never expected to fall for a man after enduring the scandal in london but her father rejects him on account of his lack of title and funds. so very jane austen, right?!? to find out more about carolyn miller's next regency romance, visit her at carolynmillerauthor.com and her love for regency romance!

reading the passion story through the eyes of marcus longinus, the centurion posted in jerusalem to keep order during the passover is both enthralling and riveting. this day to day account of the days leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection is worth reading aloud with your family. in the soldier who killed a king: a true retelling of the passion, author david kitz takes us on a journey to the most life-changing day in history. experience the story of passion week through fresh eyes and a new perspective with your family. kitz is a Bible dramatist and outreach minister. you can learn more about his ministry at http://www.davidkitz.ca.

last march/april, i reviewed a trail of crumbs and today, i'm happy to share the latest one in the pearl spence novels, a song of home: a novel of the swing era by susie finkbeiner! as you may remember, so much has happened in pearl's life. she's still surviving the loss of her dear sister beanie, meemaw, her home and the loss of her mother when she left the family. pearl's life is finally settling down and another year has passed. she's gotten into a routine of her "new" normal when her world is turned upside down again. i love the way finkbeiner takes you inside the head of pearl as she grows up and processes the world around her in her own way! if you haven't read the first two pearl spence novels, i highly recommend that you do! while you're online, be sure to check out susie's blog at susiefinkbeiner.com.

it was a series of events that caused ruby handley freeman to make the decision to finally pursue forgiveness and face a secret she's kept hidden for over seventy years. in under a cloudless sky by chris fabry, you'll find a charming southern story set in the thriving mining town of beulah mountain, west virginia. total opposites and best friends ruby handley freeman and beatrice "bean" dingess met in 1933 and did everything together. well almost everything. they were like sisters and loved each other fiercely but the events of what became known as the "beulah mountain massacre" really took the love they had for each other to the highest level possible. look for this unforgettable story in a bookstore near you!!! i'm a huge fan of chris so if you want to know more about him, check out chrisfabry.com.

the bodies of young girls are found and it's up to special agent garrett addison and special agent jordan lambert to figure out the clues that are left behind. it's like a game of chess and the team must determine every strategic move of the notorious angel abductor. in this fast-paced thriller, vanishing point by lisa harris will have you on the edge of your seat. this one reads like an episode in tv shows like criminal minds or ncis only better because there's always hope and faith involved with the lead characters... and possibly a little romance along with a cliff hanger ending! to find out more about lisa harris, go to lisaharriswrites.com.

samantha winters never expected to see nick chastain again. he was a risk taker and she lived her life avoiding risks. but opposites attract, right?!? the last time they were together, they both exchanged heated words which resulted in the end of their relationship. since then, samantha has wanted to make amends but nick never responded to her emails or call. nick has regrets, too, and he's carrying a life-changing secret that is hard for him to talk about. in you're going to love me by robin lee hatcher, you'll find a beautiful story of reconciliation and second chances.  i've been a huge robin lee hatcher fan and have always enjoyed our interviews! i know you'll enjoy learning more about her and her books at robinleehatcher.com so visit her website!

non-fiction:

devotions for the hungry heart: chasing Jesus six days from sunday by shellie rushing tomlinson (the "belle of all things southern") is a beautiful book that's full of bite sized devotionals and Scripture along with warm-hearted stories, pictures and yummy recipes!!! oh my stars, you're going to love this devotional!!! tomlinson shares stories with warm-hearted humor and reading her writing is like having a conversation with her. check out her website at belleofallthingssouthern.com.

messiah in the passover is a passover reference book edited by darrell l. bock and mitch glaser (president of chosen people ministries). this book is for anyone interested in the jewish roots of the christian faith. you'll find jewish and church history, passover references from the torah to the Lord's supper. i really like chapter 13 "the gospel in the passover seder" where the significance of the passover ceremony is carefully explained in detail.  you can learn how to celebrate the passover in your home (chap 16) and even find recipes for passover foods (chap 19)! the last thing i love about this resource is that it will help equip you if you're trying to share Jesus with your jewish friends.  you can find additional resources and instructional videos at messiahinthepassover.com.

the read-aloud family: making meaningful and lasting connections with your kids by sarah mackenzie is a resource that is going to be your best friend in this age of technology where moms and dads are losing their children to smart phones, ipads, tablets and more! mackenzie shares her story and shares expert advise from top shelf educators about the importance of growing creative thinkers and problem solvers and more. Some more benefits of reading include nurturing empathy and compassion, the ability to make connections, increasing vocabulary and more through reading together, etc. stories expand our horizon and as a lover of words, i can vouch that sharing my love for reading has touched both of my children immensely! if you're worried you don't have time to read an entire book yourself, then check this resource out for age appropriate reading lists for your children (from "infancy through adolescence" by mackenzie). encourage the family to lay off their devices and read aloud while doing laundry, drawing or something else! it's worth it!!! check out mackenzie's blog at readaloudrevival.com/blog/.

family-friendly:

the perfect gift book for your little one is here!!! with love from me to you is written by award-winning author and one of america's "top parenting pros" mary manz simon. this adorable board book with rhyming text and sweet age appropriate illustrations (i love all the animals!!!) teaches children about showing love and kindness by their actions and not just with their words. i love the message that love is more than flowers and candy---a message all grownups can be reminded about, too! dr. mary manz simon weaves the message of God's love inside us lets us love others when we show kindness, extend forgiveness and more. this message isn't just for our little ones so feel free to gift this book to any friend big or small!!! to learn more about award-winning author mary, manz simon and her other resources, visit her at marymanzsimon.com.