2nd Annual Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop
It's time for some spring cleaning!
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Top 10 Books I Just Had to Buy But Are Still on My Shelf Unread
Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, and this week's topic is: Top 10 Books I Just Had to Buy But Are Still Sitting on My Shelf Unread. *wipes sweat off forehead* That was a mouthful. (*Disclaimer, I didn't buy all of these books--some are bought, some were gifts, and one was from NetGalley.)
1. Radiant Shadows (Wicked Lovely, # 4) - Melissa Marr - I think I've had this in my possession...hmm...June will be 3 years, and I haven't read it yet.
2. Entreleadership - Dave Ramsey - Huge Dave Rasmey fan. Got this shortly after publication, I think December of 2011.
3. Captivating - John & Stasi Eldredge - I actually only just got this for Christmas this past year. Though it's been published a lot longer than that, I just had to have it as soon as I heard about it.
4. Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, # 1) - Richelle Mead - I love Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series, so I jumped on a chance to get Succubus Blues when it was a free Amazon Kindle deal.
5. The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden - Jessica Sorensen - Just another one I scooped up.
6. The Girl Who Played With Fire (Millennium, # 2) - Stieg Larsson - I snagged up The Girl Who Played With Fire after finishing The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but I haven't picked it up. I've probably had this one on my shelf for 2 years as well.
7. Wilde's Army (Darkness Falls, # 2) - Krystal Wade - I read Wilde's Fire and wasn't blow away, but I have a hard time not finishing a series. But for some reason, I'm really dreading picking up Wilde's Army despite having it in possession for so long.
8. A Dance With Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, # 5) - George R R Martin - Well on this one, I haven't finished A Feast for Crows so I can't move into A Dance With Dragons, but since these books are so long, I'll get to it eventually.
9. Destined (House of Night, # 9) - PC & Kristin Cast - Snagged this one shortly after it's release (October 2011), but I haven't made it past chapter 3. Ugh! I will press forward and finish it because I must review this book.
10. Praying the Names of God - Ann Spangler - After finishing Praying the Names of Jesus, I had to get my hands on this one. But like so many "self-help" and Christian books, I take a long time to go through these books because of the amount of information that needs to be absorbed. So I haven't picked this one up yet.
That's it for my Top 10 (trust me there are about 50ish others where these 10 came from that are actually in my possession and need to be read). What are your top 10 books that you just had to get but haven't read yet? Let me know!
The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage - Review
The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage
By: Stormie Omartian
Published: January 1st 2009 by Harvest House Publishers
252 pages
Source: Personal Library
)
Goodreads description--Stormie Omartian's bestselling books on prayer and marriage have touched millions of readers in a life-changing way. "The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage" helps husbands or wives pray to protect their relationship from 14 serious problems that can lead to unsatisfying marriages or even divorce. For those who are already struggling in these areas, this book will help them find healing and restoration.Readers will learn how to pray about everything fromcommunication breakdown to struggles with finances and raising childrenmisplaced priorities to anger, unforgiveness, and sexual frustrationpornography and infidelity to depression and addictions
No stranger to struggles in her 34 years of marriage, Stormie looks at these topics and more in the straightforward, hopeful manner readers have come to trust. As always, readers will find Bible verses and personal prayers they can use as powerful resources to help their marriages last a lifetime.
Previously published as "Praying Through the Deeper Issues of Marriage"
First off, I think it's pretty obvious that I'm a Stormie Omartian fan. I've read several of her Power of a Praying... books and I plan to continue to read more. She's helped me tremendously on my journey to a better prayer life.
I sought out The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage when my husband and I hit a bump in the road in our own marriage (what marriage doesn't have those?) and despite having The Power of a Praying Wife, I felt like I needed something different--something more. And so I ended up getting The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage. As with the other Power of a Praying... books that I've read, I took this one slow in order to maximize information retention. And there came a point where our marriage felt more stable and secure and I didn't feel the urgent need to press on in the book like I once did, so I put it down for a spell.
The wonderful part about this book is that you and your marriage don't need to be struggling in order for you to benefit from this book. Ms. Omartian's books usually follow the pattern of a different topic per chapter. Within the chapter, she discusses the topic at length and provides a sample prayer and scripture (Promises from God) on the subject. But The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage went another step. She included three prayers at the end of each chapter. The first prayer was always a Prayer of Protection. This prayer is designed to protect you, your spouse, and your marriage from experiencing this particular problem to begin with. Or if you both struggle with the issue, it helps to cover you both in this area. Next was a Prayer for Breakthrough in Me. This obviously covers if you are the partner struggling with the topic of the chapter. And finally, she included a Prayer for Breakthrough in My Spouse designed to cover your spouse should he/she be the one struggling with the chapter topic.
Because each chapter included the three different prayers at the end, I felt each topic discussed was covered in every way possible. Most of the time, I found that even if I didn't think we as a couple or I individually was struggling with a particular chapter topic, once I read and prayed the prayers she included, I realized that I needed improvement more than I originally thought.
As I always feel led to include in my review of any Christian book, Stormie Omartian's books do not contain the standard. They do contain Scripture and I have learned much from her. But I find that there are some things she says that I don't 100% agree with. And so while I do recommend anyone and everyone I can to read her books, we must always compare what man says against what God says. The Source for truth is and always will be the Bible--God's Word.
One I thing I know for certain, you can't pray for your marriage and not see improvement in yourself, your spouse, and/or your marriage. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).
The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage gets 4.5 Stars from me. Have you read this book? What did you think? Let me know!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Sunday Post - 37 & Stacking the Shelves - 10
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.
Husband has recovered from his sickness for the most part. I, however, have developed a slight sinus infection. Ugh! I don't feel that bad though. Did some clothes shopping Friday night. That was nice. Got 2 pairs of shorts and 3 tank tops--summer here I come! Then went to see my nephew play indoor soccer. He was put in at goalie for the second half, and I was really impressed with his skills. Yesterday I was a bum, but that allowed me to finish one book about make it 50% through another one.
THIS PAST WEEK:
Monday: Review of Waiting on Mercy (Cambion, # 2) by Shannon Dermott (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Top 10 Books on my Spring 2013 TBR List (and I've already finished one of them! YAY ME!)
Wednesday: Waiting on The Dream Thieves and the Lunar Love Giveaway Hop ended.
Thursday: Review of The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks (3 Stars)
UPCOMING THIS WEEK:
Monday: Review of The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage by Stormie Omartian
Tuesday: Top 10 Tuesday: Top 10 Books I Had to Buy But Are Still Unread
Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday & The Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop begins (Ends March 25th)
Thursday: Review of No Mercy (Cambion, # 2.5) by Shannon Dermott
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.
I only got one book in this week because I'm still trying to keep the TBR list under control considering that I'm participating in the March Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge by Kimba The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. But it was a really good one...
Walking Disaster (Beautiful, # 2)
By: Jamie McGuire
Expected Publication: April 2nd 2013 by Atria Books
448 pages
Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!)
)
Goodreads description--Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster. Can you love someone too much? Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.
Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.
Also since I'm participating in this challenge (though not the read-a-thon), I figured I'd give a recap of how I'm doing so far.
I've read 6 books from my TBR pile since the beginning of March. They are:
1. Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, # 1) - Robin LaFevers
2. The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, # 1) - Julie Kagawa
3. The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, # 1) - James Dashner
4. The Secret of Ella and Micha (The Secret, # 1) - Jessica Sorensen
5. Jenny Pox (The Paranormals, # 1) - JL Bryan
6. Rule (Marked Men, # 1) - Jay Crownover
That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!
Thursday, March 14, 2013
The Guardian - Review
The Guardian
By: Nicholas Sparks
Published: April 1st 2005 by Grand Central Publishing (first published April 1st 2003)
400 pages
Source: Borrowed from my sister
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Goodreads description--Julie Barenson's young husband left her two unexpected gifts before he died: a Great Dane puppy named Singer and the promise that he would always be watching over her. Now, four years have passed. Still living in the small town of Swansboro, North Carolina, 29-year-old Julie is emotionally ready to make a commitment to someone again. But who? Should it be Richard Franklin, the handsome, sophisticated engineer who treats her like a queen? Or Mike Harris, the down-to-earth nice guy who was her husband's best friend? Choosing one of them should bring her more happiness than she's had in years. Instead, Julie is soon fighting for her life in a nightmare spawned by a chilling deception and jealousy so poisonous that it has become a murderous desire....
I haven't read many Nicholas Sparks books. Actually, I THINK I've only "read" two including this one. The other being The Lucky One. And both I've actually listened to the audiobooks, but I do love the movies based on his books. It's no surprise that this man is a gifted storyteller.
That being said, Nicholas Sparks has developed a reputation for killing off at least one character in every book. And while death is most certainly a part of life and it's all around us, it lends to his predictability. Every Nicholas Sparks book or movie I begin immediately attempting to discover who's going to end up dead. He didn't disappoint in killing of a character or in his predictability.
I did enjoy The Guardian, but I don't think one thing caught me by surprise. I'd email my sister, who I borrowed the audiobook from, and say "X is a creeper isn't he?" or "X is going to die, right?" She can attest. I do believe every single guess I had was correct.
But the story was well-developed. The characters had a backstory and history. I can see this coming to the big screen and being a hit as Mr. Sparks other books have been.
All in all, I found The Guardian to be predictable but a solid read worthy of a middle of the road rating of 3 stars. Have you read The Guardian? If so, what did you think? Let me know!
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