BookLoverAmanda

  Every Hour I Need You by Katie Faris  4 Stars This was very relatable for me as a mom. As Moms we are always stretched too thin and trying to do everything with little energy left at the end of the day. Katie writes with the kind of understanding that she KNOWS just how it feels as a Mother herself, long days...long nights...yet even in the chaos we can connect with the Lord in the every day.  I feel like this was a good devotional that really meets Moms where we are in the messy every day life, and encourages us to remember the attributes of God. His sovereignty, patience, love, faithfulness...and how we can remember those attributes in our every day lives.  Each chapter was easy to read each day and made for a good quick devotional. I really liked her personal stories as that added a layer of relatability for me. She has 5 children so she had plenty of stories should could tell. They were real and honest. I think this would be a good devotional to give as a gift ...

  A Short Story, 50 Pages - 1 Hour Audiobook ARC From NetGalley Everybody's Favorite Guy - Katherine Center  3 Stars  Quick audiobook I got from NetGalley, will be on KU for a quick secular romance read on March 17th. Short story. Requested just to see how it was, since the last couple of Katherine Center romance books just have not worked for me, I was curious how this was with it being just a short story.... 7 years after Walker's rejection, Lily and their families have conspired to bring them back together at a cabin in the Rockies when a snowstorm traps them overnight with no power. They confront their unresolved feelings. The romance was more lustful than I prefer, but it was a quick, easy listen when I just wanted something light and not too heavy.  However, the ending reason for why he pushed her away so long ago was honorable and had some depth - I liked that part pretty well because it reminded me of the past Katherine Center books I liked.  Their Mom's...

  Just as I Am by Mandi Blake Book 1 in the Unfailing Love Series 4 Stars I am going back and reading Mandi's backlist and really enjoying my time with them. These are always a good time with a fierce protector guy, sweet, clean romance and good faith moments. We follow Adeline and Declan. She goes to her aunt and uncles house in Georgia as she went on the run from her abusive ex-boyfriend and meets Declan. He is newly home from the Army so he is naturally a protector. When he sees Adeline in danger from her ex, he saves her from the situation and they fake date due to the circumstances. Their fake relationship turns to real one really fast. The stakes get high as her ex keeps creeping in and coming after her. The suspense at the end was wild! I liked the characters and friend group was really good to be introduced to. While the romance is quick, I still had a good time with it. This was Mandi's debut book and I love going back to her backlist and seeing where she started. I ha...

                                                     The Lady's Mine by Francine Rivers 4 Stars I finally read The Lady's Mine by Francine Rivers and I really enjoyed it! Katheryn is a strong willed young woman sent to a rough mining town (Calvada) during the gold-rush era, where she inherits her uncle's newspaper, mine...etc. She is determined to stand "10 toes down on business" and reopens the paper, quickly becomes a voice for justice in town filled with corruption. She settles in her new life and finds herself in a slow-burn romance with Matthias Beck, owner of the local hotel and saloon. He is steady, grounded....and the perfect balance to Kathryn's fire! I liked how their romance had tension, banter and respect for one another. It felt like a partnership, not just a romance. While som...

  DNF Review: A Deeper Well by Jill Eileen Smith (No Star Rating – Content-Based DNF) I received a review copy of A Deeper Well from the publisher. As always, my thoughts are entirely my own. This is one of those reviews that’s hard to write. I do like a good biblical fiction with redemptive themes and Jesus shown bringing hope in their depravity.  However, I chose to DNF this book because the content became heavier than I was personally prepared for. I want to be transparent about that so readers can make their own informed decision if this is right for them or not. Maybe at another time of my life I could read this, but as a Mom, it was just too much for me. First, what I can say - I think Jill Eileen Smith is a skilled author. The writing is immersive and very richly detailed and you can tell she did a lot of research in writing it.  However, this story is just sooo sad and intense. It follows Nessa, who is married off at thirteen to a much older man and then pa...

  The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate 4 Stars Book 1 in this series  This is a powerful story that uses a gentle voice of animals to explore captivity, friendship and small acts of kindness. This book is narrated by Ivan, who is a silverback gorilla who has spent most of his life in a shopping mall enclosure. He considers himself an artist and a survivor.....because his past is tragic with how the humans have treated him and the family he loved.  Ivan becomes friends with a young elephant named Ruby and older one named Stella. Ruby starts to change what he thinks about where he is and their purpose. He is also friends with a stray dog named Bob that adds warmth and humor to the story.  Ivan is thoughtful and he really carries the books. Ruby is young and the emotional presence of the book. Ivan is protective of her. Stella is also wise. This book asks the reader to see the world through Ivan's eyes and to realize the importance of treating animals humanely a...