This Is What You'll Remember- Holly Waugh

Grab a box of tissues, a cup of coffee and a comfy chair to settle into for this amazing read.

Holly's book brings you on her true, nearly unbelievable,  heartbreaking, redemptive tale of her life. It is woven with humor, sadness and triumph.

I am so incredibly blessed to have received an ARC of this book for my honest review. Honestly? It was amazing. It was worth the sleepless nights when I couldn't put it down. It's worth every penny and then some.

it was amazing

I want to preface this review by saying that I received an ARC for my open and honest review. However, it wouldn't matter if it were free or if I had paid a bagillion dollars, my opinion doesn't change...this book RUINED me! I have zero tissues left in my room and my sleeve is covered in snot. Thanks.

This mama's arms ached to reach through the pages and rock this tired, abused little girl. Soothe her tender teenaged heart. Listen and ease the anger of her adult grief. I wanted to clasp her hands and dance around the room and rejoice with her in triumph!

Anna's story isn't just words on a page that happened in someone's head for a fictional book. It happened in real life to Anna and her siblings. It was real. This story, that should be a movie by the way, is heart wrenching, soul searching and victorious. I'm so inspired and so incredibly proud of you, Anna!

Redeeming Love

I read this book several years ago and still think about it. I have been a Christian most of my life and the story of Hosea and Gomer had always puzzled me. Why on earth would God ask him to marry a prostitute? Why would she reject his love and continue to go back to her old life? To choose that? Francine Rivers beautifully depicts this story in a way that makes sense to the modern mind. It is heartbreaking, amazing....redeeming.

A Mile Wide

Yes, I realize it's been a hundred years since I've posted, but the bookworm in me has been busy! 

I fell in love with Jen Hatmaker's books a few years ago. So my love for her, obviously, includes anyone in her sphere of influence and love. Brandon writes with as much "realness" as his wife. I found myself saying, "Yep! That's EXACTLY how I feel!" He speaks with honesty and a realness that is rare. Such a good book for those who are seeking truth and longing for more than just religion.

5 outta 5 for this one!

Hide In Plain Sight

I just finished up the book, "Hide In Plain Sight" by Marta Perry this morning.  What a sweet little book.  Here's the scoop:

The main character, Andrea is a financial expert (with a pain-in-the-butt of a boss, by the way) in a big city and comes home when one of her younger sister's was injured to help her and her grandmother turn her childhood home into a bed and breakfast called "The Three Sister's Inn."

Her home town is small and in Amish country, so it's strange when a string of  dangerous accidents  threaten her family.  Trusting was difficult for Andrea...even this tall, blonde, handsome, rescue hero, carpenter, who seemed, freaking awesome...was a struggle. (sheesh, what was her problem?) But her life, and her family, depended on her to find out the truth of what the heck was going on.

Dun, dun, dun... (que creepy mystery music). Ms. Perry has a great way of weaving a love story and a mystery.  Just when you think you have the bad person figured out, it changes. I love mysteries like that.

I love a good romance, and while they are usually predictable, this one is no different.  But who cares!  I love it when the guy gets the girl.  Muah, Muah. (As my 9 year old would say).

The Christian perspective was there too.  It was gentle, not overtly obvious.  The Amish friends knew the Lord...obviously.  The family and the love interest, Cal.  Andrea had slipped away and was trying to find her way back.  I wish it was brought more to the forefront though.

There was a third sister that was mentioned, but never included in the story.  She was kind of like the old cottage cheese in the back of the fridge, ignored and forgotten.  After all, it was "The Three Sister's Inn" not two sisters.  I wish Marta Perry would have expounded on her character.

I have downloaded a lot of free e-books and many of them have been ho-hum and full of typos and grammar issues...DESPERATE need of an editor and maybe some chocolate and coffee to liven the plot.  I know I needed some to keep me from banging my head on the table. However, this one was different.  I was pleasantly delighted at how Ms. Perry's prose made me flip the pages...well, swipe the pages...and wonder who would dare hurt this amazing family.  The jerk.

Try it.  You'll like it.

Four outta Five.

The Influence

I love to read.  I love it.  If I had to jot down a Top 10 List of my favorite 10 authors, well, I probably would stretch it to 13 because I wouldn't be able to cut a few out...however, two authors that would definitely be on the list would be Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti.  I love the way Mr. Dekker weaves a story. His mind is ridiculous.  I'm consistently surprised as his novels progress and end. It irks me that I don't see them coming. I love the way Mr. Peretti writes with, not a silver tongue, but a silver, uh, pen.  His spiritual insight on "This Present Darkness" awakened my eyes to spiritual warfare when I was a teen.  And when they collaborated on a book! Psh.  Forget about it. They are stupid, crazy talented. So imagine my delight when I found this book, "The Influence" by Matthew John Slick.

One reviewer had written, "THE INFLUENCE is a supernatural thriller.  If you enjoy books like Ted Dekker, Bill Myers or Frank Peretti you will love The Influence!"

I don't know if I would put it up in their league, but I did really like it. A lot.  Let me give you the premise of this book.

The main character is Mark.  He was in his garden, thinking about his son who had died unexpectedly and without any clear explanation.   Without him even realizing it, he is prodded by a demon into committing suicide.  However, at the last second... da da dada da! An angel, Sotare, rescues him, saving him from himself.  Over the next several days, the two talk about God, life, death, his family, good, evil, angels, demons, his son...  Sotare even lets him have a rare glimpse into the spiritual realm.  Demons are sent to hurt him, kill his family and those who are praying for him.

Ok.  So that's the basic story, without giving too much away.  Mr. Slick is a very talented writer.  He can twist and turn a sentence like a road in the Appellation Mountains.  He gave you a perfect set up to let your imagination go wild.  I could visualize the angels.  I had chills...literal chicken skin on my arms, when I pictured the demons that he described.  The depictions of hell and the stories that he shared made me shutter to my core... and had me read passages to my children so they, too, could know that hell just isn't a "bad place," but somewhere that is damnable, full of relentless torture and very, very real.

Matthew John Slick's teaching in the book has very sound theology too.  The conversations that Sotare the angel and Mark have are genuine, in depth and answer many questions that we all ask.  He answers them with firm, Biblical answers.  The message of the gospel and the plan of Salvation is clearly laid out.

Now, here's the negative.  The book is in desperate need of a good editor.  It's very redundant.  I know I get carried away when I talk and when I write.  This guy definitely does too.  In the philosophical conversations I ended up skimming over some of them because I was like, "Ok.  Got it."

The plan of salvation was written out beautifully in the book.  Several times.  And then again when the book was over.  I do appreciate his exuberance in wanting people to know the Lord, but it was, oddly enough, too much.  Who knew there could be too much of that Salvation talk?

When I read phenomenal books, I don't want them to end.  When they do, I stomp my foot, pretend I'm a two year old for a minute and demand a sequel.  This one, I thought had a lot of endings.  I couldn't believe it kept going.  Just when I thought it was over, I turned another page. A good editor would have really helped him.

I really hope that there is a second addition.  It truly is a great story.  People that are seeking answers will find them in this book.  And if by the end they haven't received Christ as their Lord and Savior, well, they know the consequences.  He wrote them clearly and beautifully.  Thank you, Matthew John Slick. The Lord has blessed you with an amazing gift.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.