To Be Like Jesus - Sister Ann Shields

To Be Like Jesus - Inspiration From the Gospel of Luke
by Sister Ann Shields S.G.L

To Be Like Jesus is a small book that is designed to be a weekly relection on the Gospel of Luke. This book is a thought provoking yet relaxing reed. Sister Ann Shields takes you on a journey through the Gospel of Luke in 31 chapters filled to the brim with personal stories, Biblical references and sections for further reflection.

Do you love your neighbor?
How rigid is your definition of "neighbor?"
Have you chosen the "good portion?"
Are you reflective in your spiritual life or active?
Are you proud of that?
Are you still searching for a balance?

Sister Ann asks the tough questions...

Am I trying to save myself rather than letting God be my savior?
Do I do good deeds to earn "brownie points" with God?
Do I think that generous acts will make up for my sins?
Do I pray in public places in order to be seen?

Reading the Bible has always been a struggle for me. Imagine trying to make sense of it on top of that! To Be Like Jesus will leave you feeling like you've actually understood something Biblical perhaps even for the first time. This book is great for all of anyone looking for more understanding from your Bible reading.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Materials are provided from The Catholic Company for review purposes. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on To Be Like Jesus. Also be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts.

Exiles: A Novel - Ron Hansen

About the book

In December 1875 the steamship Deutschland left Bremen, Germany, bound for America. On board were five nuns, exiled by a government ban on religious orders, hoping to begin their lives anew in Missouri. Their journey would end when the Deutschland ran aground at the mouth of the Thames and all five drowned. Ron Hansen tells their harrowing story, but also that of the poet and priest Gerard Manley Hopkins, and how the shipwreck moved him to write a grand poem, a reveletory work read throughout the world today. Combining a thrilling tragedy at sea with the seeming shipwreck of Hopkins's own life, "Hansen brilliantly, if soberly, weaves two interrelated storylines into a riveting novel" (booklist)

My Review

Exiles: A Novel surprised me! Not only is this book a work of art but can be read and enjoyed by all reading levels. While I did find myself not understanding everything that was referred to, the story itself drew me in and kept me in the raging waters of this tale.




As you learn more and more about each central character you find yourself more invested in their future. Sister Aurea eventually held the biggest place in my heart. Her childlike personality and joyful soul reaches out from the pages. Each of the 5 nuns from the story will capture your attention and create an urgency that will keep you up reading well past bedtime. The fact that you already know the ending will not stop you from wanting to learn each and every piece of information that you can about these Exiles.



Hansen creates a relatable past for each of the central characters that peeks into the details of their lives before and after they chose their vocations. Sister Norberta stands out as a woman we would all do well to learn from. Her strength and loyalty are an excellent example for all.



I enjoyed following Father Hopkins through his journey and related to him as being the only Catholic in his immediate family (though he is much smarter than I!) Hopkins ventures from place to place sharing his unique viewpoint as he goes. I would recommend this book to any follower of Christ as it shows the strength of conviction even when there is no happy ending. The reality of this story goes far beyond the tale of a shipwreck. It follows the realistic struggle that each of us face in everyday life. Struggles with pride and loneliness and a love for the Father that though we can never get "right" will be our savior in the end.



You can purchase this book here.


I wrote this review of Exiles: A Novel for the Tiber River Blogger Review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods, your source for Oplatki and Advent Calendars. For more information and to purchase, please visit Aquinas and More Catholic Goods.


Tiber River is the first Catholic book review site, started in 2000 to help you make informed decisions about Catholic book purchases.


I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Where Hearts Are Free - Golden Keyes Parsons

I found Where Hearts Are Free to be a breath of fresh air! You'll not find your typical fairytale in these pages. Parsons has the refreshing ability to draw on real to life relationships that are not always easy. The answers are not always clear and sometimes we just don't know the way.

This book reminded me that faith can overcome all things and that Gods grace can and will make clean those things that stain us. I am not an avid reader of this time period but found myself drawn to the characters and their lives especially Philippe's family life in the Schuylkill Valley! I was delighted to see this setting as I briefly lived in the Schuylkill Vally several years ago. It is quite cold and snowy in the winter!

While it did take me a bit to really get into the book, once I was in I was hooked! I couldn't put the book down until the last 50 pages. All of a sudden I wanted to shelf the book because I just didn't want it to end. Reading those final pages would end the story too soon for me.

This one is definitely a page turner, a delightful read and chocked full of encouragement all along the way. You will battle right along side with this cast through varying emotions, mistakes and secrets! Oh the secrets that these characters have hidden away. I don't think there were a handful of them that didn't have a secret! Some will shock you and some you will completely understand.

In the end faith, love and honor could be lost. But will it?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Waiting - Suzanne Woods Fisher

About The Waiting:

Book 2 in The Lancaster Secrets collection and hot on the heals of the best-selling The Choice, The Waiting, a stand alone story, is a compelling page turner. Jorie King has been waiting for Benjamin Zook to return home to Lancaster County so they can marry. When news arrives that Ben has been killed, Jorie finds comfort in the friendship of his brother Caleb. That friendship ripens into love, and it seems that they are meant to be together. But when the unexpected happens, their worlds are turned upside down once more. Will Jorie trust God to lead her into the arms of a new man?

A multifaceted story about complex people living the simple life. Readers will find themselves transported into the world of the Amish and deeply invested in these wonderful characters.

 

About Suzanne Woods Fisher:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the CBA bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, Amish Peace, and Amish Proverbs. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California . Find out more about Suzanne at http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com/
 Click Here to buy the book

My Personal Opinion:

I was so excited when I received this book to review. So excited in fact that I had to borrow the first book in the series from my Mother In Law! I will openly admit that I drug out the reading of this book. I didn't want it to end and found myself rationing my pages to make the book last as long as possible!

Suzanne has a brilliant mind and through the emotions on her pages, she draws you right into the book along with the characters. I found myself completely understanding exactly where each character was coming from. I sympathized with their troubles and I rooted for them each step along the way! From young Ephriam to Sylvia, the Sister In Law, I knew and understood the emotions they were dealing with. I've never been quite so drawn to a group of characters in my life.

I would love to have Jorie, Marge, Cal and even the Aunties over for lunch! This is such an authentic cast that you will want to savor every moment that you have between the pages and I guarantee that you will not loan this book to anyone who might not return it!

*I received a copy of The Waiting from the publisher for review purposes

Suzanne Woods Fisher is thrilled to announce the release of The Waiting, book two in The Lancaster Secrets Collection. In The Waiting Jorie finds herself caught be two loves and two lives in this compelling page turner about complex people living the simple life.

A must read!

Visit the blog tour and find out what the reviewers are saying!

Learn more about Suzanne and her books at http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com/!

The Waiting is the next stand alone story in The Lancaster Secrets Collection and follows in the footsteps of the best-selling, The Choice. The Waiting is in stores now and to celebrate Suzanne is hosting The Waiting KINDLE Giveaway.

One Grand Prize winner will receive a Kindle preloaded with Suzanne Woods Fisher titles and a Amazon.com gift certificate! The Prize Pack (valued at over $185.00) includes:

* A brand new KINDLE, Free 3G, 6", Latest Generation

* The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher

* The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

* A $15 dollar Amazon.com Gift Certificate

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest. Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on October 28th at Suzanne's Lancaster Secrets Book Club Party.

Join Suzanne for the Lancaster Secrets Book Club Party on October 28th! She’ll be announcing the winner of the The Waiting KINDLE Giveaway, hosting a book club discussion of The Waiting and The Choice, and giving away copies of both books and HEAPs of readerly prizes! Be sure to join us on Thursday, October 28th at 5:00 PM PST (6:00 MST, 7:00 CST & 8 EST) at Suzanne’s Author Page. 

Under A Maui Moon - Robin Jones Gunn

Under A Maui Moon by Robin Jones Gunn
Reviewed by: Julia Dixon, thouartjules.com
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Howard Books
Publication Dates: July 6, 2010



Carissa’s quiet and scheduled world is turned upside down in a matter of about 24 hours. In these 24 hours she has lost her sense of privacy and safety in her own home, realized that her marriage is and has been coming apart at the seams and is terminated from her 15 year position in a medical office.

Carissa’s husband Richard is a psychologist and an artist at solving other people’s problems. However, his inability to solve problems at home comes to a head when unknowingly he leaves his wife feeling unprotected and unimportant.
In an effort to escape from a situation that Carissa feels she cannot control, she accepts an invitation to travel alone to the beautiful island of Hawaii. With nothing but time on her hands and the waves calling to her, Carissa finds herself at odds with her own conscience as she battles her own past, her relationship with God and her husband. Just as revelations are made, Carissa places them tightly into a box that is bursting at the seams.
With the beautiful sand and surf, a garden paradise outside of her back door and a well tanned athletic neighbor, Carissa’s adventure is just beginning! In the end, Carissa confronts herself as she has never done before, has some straight talk with her Heavenly Father, and realizes that love is ripe for the picking at any age.

Robin manages to take you with her into the tropical paradise of the Hawaiian islands like none other! You can smell the jasmine in the air and feel the sand under your feet in this book. I would love to have read this book in January! This book is an exotic adventure through the islands and with the islanders that you are not soon to forget. Carissa becomes a friend to you through this book as you follow her and her heart through the turmoil of confusion, hurt and abandonment - into strength, knowledge, trust and a little glimmer in her eye that we can all relate to in some way. We all need to remember that God is always there if we open our eyes and our hearts.
The story also tells of a historical female figure in Hawaii’s distant path that calls to the instincts of every woman in one way or another. This is a book that I had a lot of trouble putting down but no trouble coming up with a review for. I would definitely recommend it to any woman whether single, married, happy or unhappy!

*This book was provided by Wynn Wynn Media for review purposes

*PG13 – I give this book a PG13 rating due to some conversations regarding addictions including sexual addiction. These discussions are not descriptive but they are conversations none the less.

Havah - Tosca Lee

I downloaded Havah to read on the computer which is not my normal book reading/review habit. I always find it difficult to read through a book on my laptop instead of just picking up a book and carrying it whereever I go.

This book however was an exception! I have never read a book quite like this one. I could not "put it down" and found myself sitting in front of this bright screen late into the night and early into the mornings!

Havah is basically the story of Adam and Eve told from Eve's perspective. When I started reading the book I realized that we know very little of the day to day lives of this couple and even less about their lives after exile. While this story is certainly fiction, it does stick to the facts as well.

Havah is born from nothing into a paradise that we cannot even imagine. Her companion is there with her from the start to help teach her the ways of the "world." As Havah and "the adam" go through their daily lives living in communion with the animals and plant kingdom, their creator is always present. They live their lives feeling his presence and knowing that their every desire will come to pass.

The couples world comes crashing down in a second. One bad idea, one greedy thought, one moment of desire for something forbidden and they are chased from the garden.

Havah spends her entire life preparing for their return to the garden. Always in her mind and dreams is their return to Eden. She raises her children, teaches them skills, watches the weather and continues to put one foot in front of the other all with the promised return in mind.

Havah learns to live off of a land that is no longer at her command. The two must toil for food, they must build shelters, they must protect themselves not only from the elements but the very animals they use to commune with.

Havah, the adam and all of their children grow and learn through hundreds of years of trying to get things right and it all comes down to the moment of truth and the promise of a return to Heaven on Earth.

*I received an electronic copy of this book for review and book club purposes