I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God - Review

I AM: 40 Reasons to Trust God

By: Diane Stortz

Publication: February 2nd 2016 by Thomas Nelson

224 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Christian, Parenting, Devotions

Source: Own

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--God’s names tell us who He is, what He is like, and what He does. This beautiful book covers 40 of the Bible’s many names and descriptive titles for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Jehovah Jireh

The Lord My Shepherd

Immanuel

Rabbi

I Am

Through Bible stories, short devotions, and prayers, children discover the meaning of each name and how it relates to their lives. As they develop understanding of God’s character and His love for them, children will grow to know, love, and trust the great I Am more and more.

Those who know your name put their trust in you. —Psalm 9:10

I wanted to start a daily devotion with my kids. But I was struggling because I had this idea that I needed to create the devotions from scratch. I needed to pick the topic, and research it, and plan a lesson, and maybe even have activities to go along with it. And I just kept thinking about the amount of work that would go into something like that. I wondered where I would find time to research and plan such a thing. I thought about using an existing devotion, but theology differs so much from denomination to denomination that I was afraid of buying something and having to filter the content for them. But ultimately, I decided that I couldn't keep putting this off. So I researched some children's devotionals, and I kept coming across this one.

First, how beautiful is this cover? The illustrations in this book is one of the first things that attracted me to this book. I remember some of the children's Bible books that I was exposed to as a child, and I remember thinking that I didn't enjoy looking at them. This book is beautiful. Really engaging and gorgeous artwork all the way through.

I couldn't think of a better place to start a devotion with my children than about who God is...His character...His story...His pursuit of man. I wanted not just a bunch of children's stories to tell them: creation, Noah and the flood, and David and Goliath. Those are great, but I wanted to show them the WHY behind it all...the WHO. We don't get as much out of the stories if we're not focusing on God and His part in it all.

Doctrinely, I didn't find anything that I disagreed with until maybe the last one or two that were focused upon Revelation, which is the most controversial book in the entire Bible.

Most importantly, I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God created a dialogue between myself and my children. We conversed and discussed God and spiritual things and questions more than any other time. My son, who we have struggled with behavior issues, was the most interested. He requested this devotion frequently as our bedtime story, whereas my daughter would sometimes groan. Even if the kids weren't excited about reading from the book, it still sparked discussion more than not using anything had in the past. I can count that alone as a win. For me, I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God was a win all around and deserves 5 Stars. If you're looking for a family or children's devotion--especially a first one--I highly recommend this book. Have you read I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for An Unwitting Alliance

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

An Unwitting Alliance (Matchmaking Mamas, # 1)

By: Anneka R Walker

Expected Publication: July 10, 2023

272 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Cassandra Vail has but one objective at the Kellens’ ball: she must secure a proposal from her eminently suitable suitor. Instead, she finds her best-laid plans thwarted by another man―the handsome and thoroughly vexing Mr. Harwood. Thanks to his meddling, Cassandra is faced with an unthinkable consequence: her parents take matters into their own hands and betroth her to a complete stranger.

Tom Harwood meant only to deter a debutante from pursuing his friend. He wasn’t supposed to be entranced by her. He certainly wasn’t supposed to flirt with her. And he especially wasn’t supposed to engage the wrong woman entirely. To make matters worse, he’s offended Cassandra and before he has the opportunity to make amends, he finds himself the latest unwitting victim of the meddlesome Matchmaking Mamas. His parents have signed a contract for his hand in marriage, and it seems his mysterious betrothed is as opposed to the union as he is.

When the reluctant couple finally meets, they are shocked to realize they are not strangers after all. Can one miserable beginning be overcome, or has their future ended before it even begins?

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

March 2023 EOM Wrap Up

I read 3 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Lord Farleigh and Miss Frost (Clairvoir Castle Romances, # 4) by Sally Britton
Wyoming Wild by Sarah M Eden
The Earl’s Hideaway, No Ladies Allowed (A Romance of Rank, # 2) by Esther Hatch

I have reviewed 4 books. *These qualify for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Built to Last by Erin Hahn
The Call of the Sea by Sian Ann Bessey
The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon
Wyoming Wild by Sarah M Eden

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 03/05/23
Sunday Post - 03/12/23
Sunday Post - 03/19/23
Sunday Post - 03/26/23
Top Ten Spring 2023 TBR List
Top Ten Authors (Books) to Read if You Like Jennifer L Armentrout
Can't Wait for A Soul of Ash and Blood (Blood and Ash, # 5) by Jennifer L Armentrout
Can't Wait for Never Wager with a Wallflower (The Merriwell Sisters, # 3) by Virginia Heath
Can't Wait for Sleepless in Dubai by Sajni Patel
Can't Wait for Fairest of Heart (Texas Ever After, # 1) by Karen Witemeyer
Can't Wait for The Queen's Crown (Leauge of Rulers, # 1) by Jennifer Anne Davis
2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge - March Wrap Up
January - February 2023 EOM Wrap Ups

Goals:
I'm a few days ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 21 out of 52 books (not including children's books).
I've read 1 out of 5-10 series enders.

Book Lovers - Review

Book Lovers

By: Emily Henry

Publication: May 3rd 2022 by Berkley

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: eLibrary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

I read a book called Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson earlier this year. I loved it, and I called it a love letter to readers, authors, publishers, etc in my review. Book Lovers reminded me a lot of Meet Me in the Margins. Any book that gives insight into the writing/editing/publishing process while providing me with a love story is a top pick. Emily Henry's book Beach Read fit this bill as well.

I loved how this book began. Emily Henry writes an intro to make all book readers (or Hallmark Christmas movie watchers) smile. Nora sees herself as the big city, uptight, blonde girlfriend that the leading male character leaves for the down to earth, small town, simple-but-deep girl. That's because it's happened to her 4 times. But she doesn't exactly want to change who she is. Not for a man, not for anyone. She is a literary agent, and a lot of the book focuses on her work with one specific author. She loves her job, and she loves New York. She's happy. Mostly.

Charlie is an editor Nora meets with at the beginning of the book to consider editing her longest-standing author's latest book. Charlie turns the book down because he wants something closer to the author's earlier books. The meeting doesn't go well from Nora's perspective, and Charlie becomes her business nemesis. He has a lot going on with his character. His father has recently suffered a stroke and is still recovering. At the same time, his family's financial state needs some attention. His mother's free-spirited ways makes managing the details difficult for her. And Charlie has to step in to get a handle on things.

Most of the book also revolved around the changing relationship between Nora and her sister. I can't remember the sister's name, and I don't have my library copy to refer back to anymore. Regardless, Nora has felt something off with her sister for a while now. And when her sister comes up with this plan to visit the small town of one of Nora's books, Nora decides to go with her to try to reconnect and help her sister relax before her next baby is born. Their relationship was as rewarding to read about as Nora and Charlie's. Having a sister myself, I can relate to their relationship so much.

I wish my library copy didn't expire almost immediately after I finished it. I would like to reference more than one part to better review this book. I feel like there were some passages I highlighted, as well, I would have shared in my favorite quotes section. Even though I read Book Lovers quickly, I still had to return my library copy before I got my review written.

Book Lovers was deeper than I was expecting. I expected one of those fast, happy books that stays a bit surface level. But now that I think about it, Beach Reads wasn't just surface level. So I should have expected more from Emily Henry. Anyway, Book Lovers was just the story I needed when I got around to it. I blew through it, and it helped me keep the ball rolling after a reading slump about a month prior to reading this book. Book Lovers gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Book Lovers? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 04/02/23

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.

We were back to school this past week. Last Sunday night brought storms and bad weather. So ball games got cancelled for Monday night. Tuesday and Wednesday were normal days. Baby Boy is doing better with potty training. He's not had very many accidents at all over the last week. He is, however, holding his number twos. So that's a hurdle we have to overcome. Thursday night I was at the ball field from 5 pm until almost 9 pm. I had to work the concession stand, Little Boy had his first game, and Little Girl had softball practice. Little Boy's team won their first game 12-7. He played left-center, but didn't see much action. He struck out his first at-bat and then fouled off his second pitch of his second at-bat. He ended up striking out that one too. Oh well, first game of 5/6 baseball is in the books. Friday after school, I took the boys to get haircuts. And then Little Girl and I went to the high school JV and Varsity softball games because they were honoring the girls that went to the camp the school had back in February. Little Girl and I had a great time together.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Wyoming Wild by Sarah M Eden (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Authors (Books) To Read if You Like Jennifer L Armentrout
Wednesday: Can't Wait for The Queen's Crown (Leauge of Rules, # 1) by Jennifer Anne Davis

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?

Don’t forget to link up for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2023 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

NEW BOOKS:

No new books this week.

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!