Review: Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word by Christine Caine

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 1231.0 KB

Print Length: 383 pages

Simultaneous Device Usage: Up to 5 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits

Publisher: Zondervan (Oct. 24 2017)

Sold by: Zondervan CA (CA SOR)

Language: English

ASIN: B06XF6KKXN

Book Description

God is bigger than your current story. Bigger than fear or shame or that voice in your head that whispers that you are not enough, too broken, or too flawed. Join Him in a closer relationship—one rooted in truth and Unshakeable. In this daily devotional Christine Caine encourages you to find confidence to live as the person God created you to be.

Everything in our world that can be shaken will be shaken. And yet, the Bible assures us it doesn’t matter what happens politically, morally, socially, or economically in the world around us if we have Christ in us—if we have the kingdom of God within us—because His kingdom is Unshakeable.

In this daily devotional, bestselling author, speaker and activist Christine Caine will take you on a year-long journey of building your faith in our Unshakeable God. Through inspiring personal stories and powerful scriptures, she will equip you to live boldly and courageously, fully trusting our faithful God. She will inspire you how to activate living your life on mission. Unstoppable. Undaunted. Unashamed. Unshakable.

   “All of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.”

–Hebrews 12:27 NLT

About the Author

Christine Caine is an Australian born, Greek blooded, lover of Jesus, activist, best-selling author and international speaker. Her primary passion is to make Jesus’ last command her first priority by giving her all to see the lost saved and to build the local church – globally. Christine also has a passion for justice, and together with her husband, founded the anti-human trafficking organization, The A21 Campaign. In 2015, they also founded Propel Women, an organization designed to honor the calling of every woman, empower her to lead, equip her for success and develop a sense of God-given purpose. Powered by hot, extra-dry, skinny, cappuccinos, Christine is a lover of words who speaks too fast, talks too much, and also writes them down. Her most recent book is, Unashamed: Drop the Baggage, Pick Up Your Freedom, Fulfill Your Destiny.

My Review

Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word  by Christine Caine is a new devotional. Christine Caine has become one of my go to authors for Christian reading. She is insightful and inspiring.

Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word is dedicated to Lisa Harper's adopted daughter, Missy. She is also Caine's niece by choice. Very sweet to note that right off the start.

Of course there are 365 devotions...one for every day of the year. This will be my 2018 devotional. I found Caine's book Unshakeable to be very valuable. I know this devotional will be too.

Each page holds a devotion. Each contains a bible verse, then a devotion related to the bible verse and a short prayer. Everyone has time for this devotional. It can be read in minutes or pondered over for longer.

Highly recommend Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word  by Christine Caine.

Review: The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman

Hardcover: 65 pages

Publisher: Atria Books; Translation edition (Oct. 31 2017)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 150119349X

ISBN-13: 978-1501193491

Book Description

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and Beartown delivers an insightful and poignant holiday novella about a man who sacrificed his family in the single-minded pursuit of success and the courageous little girl fighting for her life who crosses his path.

It all begins with a father telling a story to his son on Christmas Eve. But this isn’t your typical Christmas story. The father admits to his son that he’s taken a life but he won’t say whose—not yet.

One week earlier, in a hospital late at night, the man met a five-year-old girl with cancer. She’s a smart kid—smart enough to know that she won’t beat cancer by drawing with crayons all day, but it seems to make the adults happy, so she keeps doing it.

As the man tells his son about this plucky little girl, he slowly reveals more about himself: while he may be a successful businessman, idolized by the media and his peers, he knows he failed as a parent. Overwhelmed by the responsibility of fatherhood, he took the easy way out and left his wife and little boy twenty years ago to pursue professional success. Now he is left wondering if it’s too late to forge a relationship with his son, who seems to be his opposite in every way—prizing happiness over money, surrounded by loving friends in a cozy town where he feels right at home.

Face to face with the idea that something is missing, the man is given the unexpected chance to do something selfless that could change the destiny of the little girl in the hospital bed. But before he can make the deal of a lifetime, he needs to find out what his own life has actually been worth in the eyes of his son. And so, he seeks him out and tells him this story…

Written with Fredrik Backman’s signature humor, compassion, and “knack for weaving tales that are believable and fanciful” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch), The Deal of a Lifetime reminds us that life is a fleeting gift, and our only legacy is how we share that gift with those we love

About the Author

Fredrik Backman is a Swedish author, blogger and columnist. He is the author of a work of nonfiction, Things My Son Needs to Know About Life, and a number of novels including A Man Called Ove, his first novel. Ove has sold more than 2.8 million copies worldwide, making it one of Sweden's most popular literary exports since Stieg Larsson's thriller The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - not bad for a book that was initially ignored or rejected by publishers including one memorable response that reads, "we like your novel, we think your writing has potential, but we see no commercial potential."

My Review

The Deal of a Lifetime  by Fredrik Backman is a short Christmas story about the choices we make in life. It is short and sweet. A brilliant tale that will leave the reader thinking about the choices that they have made in their own life. 

If you are only going to read one short story this Christmas, then this is definitely the one. Impossible to put down. A  great tale for everyone.

Review: The Midnight Line (Jack Reacher #22) by Lee Child

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 2557.0 KB

Print Length: 385 pages

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0399593489

Publisher: Dell (Nov. 7 2017)

Sold by: Random House Canada, Incorp.

Language: English

ASIN: B06WP486XH

Book Description

Reacher takes a stroll through a small Wisconsin town and sees a class ring in a pawn shop window: West Point 2005. A tough year to graduate: Iraq, then Afghanistan. The ring is tiny, for a woman, and it has her initials engraved on the inside. Reacher wonders what unlucky circumstance made her give up something she earned over four hard years. He decides to find out. And find the woman. And return her ring. Why not?

So begins a harrowing journey that takes Reacher through the upper Midwest, from a lowlife bar on the sad side of small town to a dirt-blown crossroads in the middle of nowhere, encountering bikers, cops, crooks, muscle, and a missing persons PI who wears a suit and a tie in the Wyoming wilderness.

The deeper Reacher digs, and the more he learns, the more dangerous the terrain becomes. Turns out the ring was just a small link in a far darker chain. Powerful forces are guarding a vast criminal enterprise. Some lines should never be crossed. But then, neither should Reacher.

About the Author

Lee Child was born October 29th, 1954 in Coventry, England, but spent his formative years in the nearby city of Birmingham. By coincidence he won a scholarship to the same high school that JRR Tolkien had attended. He went to law school in Sheffield, England, and after part-time work in the theater he joined Granada Television in Manchester for what turned out to be an eighteen-year career as a presentation director during British TV's "golden age." During his tenure his company made Brideshead Revisited, The Jewel in the Crown, Prime Suspect, and Cracker. But he was fired in 1995 at the age of 40 as a result of corporate restructuring. Always a voracious reader, he decided to see an opportunity where others might have seen a crisis and bought six dollars' worth of paper and pencils and sat down to write a book, Killing Floor, the first in the Jack Reacher series.

My Review

The Midnight Line  is the 22nd Jack Reacher novel  by Lee Child. This is an incredible series..well written and filled with action. 

The Midnight Line is a return to what makes a great Reacher novel...in my opinion. The Midnight Line is set in small town America. Whenever a Reacher book is set in a small town you know you are going to get an amazing read!

The Midnight Line is set in eastern Wyoming and western South Dakota. A beautiful area but an area that is beset with pharmaceutical drug addiction issues. The Midnight Line does a great job of bringing this problem to the forefront.

I really enjoyed The Midnight Line. My book boyfriend Jack Reacher shines in this book. I highly recommend. 

Review: Murder in the Manuscript Room (A 42nd Street Library Mystery #2) by Con Lehane

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 5583.0 KB
• Print Length: 320 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books (Nov. 21 2017)
• Sold by: Macmillan CA
• Language: English
• ASIN: B072L67N8W

Book Description

 When a murder desecrates the somber, book-lined halls of New York City's iconic 42nd Street Library, Raymond Ambler, the library's curator of crime fiction, has a personal interest in solving the crime. His quest to solve the murder is complicated by personal entanglements involving his friend--or perhaps more-than-friend--Adele Morgan. Not only does Adele's relationship with the young woman staffer who was murdered get in the way of Ambler's investigation, more disturbing for him is Adele's growing interest in a darkly handsome Islamic scholar.

Soon the Intelligence Division of the New York Police Department takes over the case from NYPD homicide detective Mike Cosgrove, Ambler's friend and sometimes partner-in-crime solving. Ambler suspects that the murder of the young woman, who'd been working at the library under an assumed name and the curious intervention of NYPD's intelligence division are connected. The trail of intrigue leads to a seemingly unrelated murder in an upstate prison and a long ago murder of a trade union reformer.

No one else sees the connections Ambler is sure are there--not an unusual state of affairs for Ambler. But with the city's law enforcement establishment determined to stop his investigation, the inquisitive and intrepid librarian faces challenges that may put his very life at risk.

Praise for Murder in the Manuscript Room:

“Con Lehane has the whole package here: characters the reader cares about, plot twists like a grand slalom course, and in the middle of it, a story utterly relevant to the real-life horror story unfolding in America’s immigration politics.”―Sara Paretsky

"The second title in a nicely bookish series, this one highlights the formidable memory and ratiocinative skills of Ambler, the curator of crime fiction at the landmark New York Public Library."―New York Times Book Review

"Con Lehane's Murder in the Manuscript Room caught my attention because not only does its crime take place in a great library, its detective is also a believable librarian. That hook, though, brought me into a whole world of well-developed characters--relatives, crooks, good cops, bad cops, possible terrorists, and a plot ranging in scope from New York high society soirees down through back rooms in great neighborhood bars. I found, myself, Murder in the Manuscript Room is a fun book to read in a neighborhood bar!"―Thomas Mann, author of The Oxford Guide to Library Research

"Not to be missed.” —Megan Abbott


About The Author

  Con Lehane grew up in the suburbs of New York City and currently writes from just outside of Washington, DC. Once a college professor, union organizer, bartender, and editor at the National Education Association, he now writes full time and teaches at The Writer's Center. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in fiction writing from Columbia University School of the Arts. Death at the Old Hotel is his third novel in the Bartender Brian McNulty mystery series. His newest offering, the first book in a new series, is due from Minotaur-Thomas Dunne Books in 2014.

My Review

 Murder in the Manuscript Room is the second book in A 42nd Street Library Mystery series by Con Lehane. I had not read the first book in the series and found that Murder in the Manuscript Room can easily be read as a stand alone.

I love the setting of the 42nd street library in New York City. While I have not been inside yet as I find myself in NYC infrequently, I have seen the outside and was very impressed.

Murder in the Manuscript Room is a well written and deeply layered book. There is a lot going on...in the past and the present. As each new layer is exposed it is impossible to put this book down.

There are great characters particularly Raymond Ambler, the library's curator of crime fiction, who is a librarian detective. He has a lot going on his life! I found the relationships in this book to be very realistic and authentic.

I really enjoyed Murder in the Manuscript Room. Highly recommend.

Review: Ordinary Graces: Word Gifts for Any Season by Lucinda Secrest McDowell

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 788 KB
• Print Length: 272 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (Oct. 17 2017)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• ASIN: B01N7Z954O

 Book Description

Everyone loves to receive a gift. And God has given us many, such as his grace--the gift we don't deserve and can never earn. Promises from the One who declares we are already loved, already accepted, already created in his image. The question becomes, will we truly receive that gift? Will the reality of it actually change the way we think and notice and reach out?

God's Word will stand forever, in any season of life. These truths prompt us to respond with compassion and courage.

Through inspiring devotions, Lucinda Secrest McDowell reveals biblical blessings that remind us that: God's promises give us strength, God's grace can be most evident at our weakest points, a proper response to our abundance of blessings is simply gratitude, and the "more" we are all looking for is the same abundant life that Jesus came to give us.

Would you like to receive these gifts of ordinary grace? Join Lucinda in focusing on one word a day through devotional readings and short benedictions for any and every season to explore the many facets of Grace, Strength, Gratitude, and Life.

Ordinary Graces is filled with sweet surprises. Lucinda Secret McDowell presents her readers with one powerful word gift a day. She skillfully defines it within a biblical context, and then challenges us to take an action step. This devotional will transform the way you live each day. I highly recommend it!
--Carol Kent, speaker and author He Holds My Hand



Author Lucinda Secrest McDowell has given us an extraordinary book with her newest release, Ordinary Graces, Word Gifts for Any Season. Although this wonderful resource is one you'll always want close at hand, it's also one that you'll find yourself sharing with those you meet who need encouragement and hope. McDowell is an author you'll turn to again and again when you're looking to connect with our Heavenly Father in a deeper, more intimate way. Truly a book that is a gift to us all.
--Edie Melson, Award Winning Author, Blogger, and Speaker

Lucinda always brings me to a place closer to God, deeper in the Word, happier in relationships and more joyful in life with Ordinary Graces.
--Pam Farrel, author of 45 books including Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti and 7 Simple Skills for Every Woman

Whether read one day at a time or in a season of refreshing, Ordinary Graces by Lucinda Secrest McDowell offers focused reflection on key, attitude-altering words. McDowell's interweaving of quotes from other thoughtful considerers adds even more depth to the beautifully expressed ponderings.
--Cynthia Ruchti, author Mornings With Jesus and As My Parents Age

Little did Lucinda Secrest McDowell know that my 'life verse' is John 1:16: 'For of His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.' In Ordinary Graces, Lucinda has conveyed the strategic importance of looking for and finding God's grace in our everyday lives. His grace does transform our lives. Gently. Tenderly. Wonderfully. The words she has chosen are exquisitely real and important to my life--and yours. Indulge in the grace-filled truth she is sharing. Take it for yourself.
--Ruth Graham, author In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart

What a delight to slow down for a few minutes of quiet with this beautifully written devotional, Ordinary Graces. In a world of hurry, Lucinda's words remind us there is grace and strength available if we will just stop to receive. Each day's reading will speak to you from Scripture and change your life for the better.
--Arlene Pellicane, author of Calm, Cool, and Connected: 5 Digital Habits for a More Balanced Life

In the beginning was the Word ... and there were words ... and they all had meaning and they were good for the spirit of man. And then Lucinda Secrest McDowell came along and took ordinary words and ushered in ordinary graces. These are the words you'd expect in a book such as this, words like gift and life. But there are also words one doesn't expect, words like broken and anger. And perhaps my favorite word of all, sleep. In Ordinary Graces, Lucinda gives us a glimpse of the ordinary to the extraordinary, highlights of her heart, and moments within the heart of God. Close enough to hear His heartbeat.
--Eva Marie Everson, CBA Bestselling Author, President, Word Weavers International

Ordinary Graces is the sort of book I can return to again and again for wise and gracious words that encourage, challenge, inspire, and comfort. A feast for the soul.
--Sharon Garlough Brown, author Sensible Shoes novel series

When I buy a devotional, I want to know that I'm getting profound insights that are theologically grounded, yet relatable to my everyday, ordinary life. That's exactly what Lucinda Secret McDowell offers in Ordinary Graces. I wanted to underline something in every paragraph, and I found myself reflecting on her words when I went about my day as a mom and a wife. This beautiful devotional will minister to your heart and lead you straight to the source of all grace: Jesus.
--Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of The Happiness Dare and Love Idol

Ordinary Graces is a short excellent daily devotional, with a Scripture verse and then practical ways on how to put the presence of God in the forefront of our day. Each one is named with a word we use in our everyday lives which Cindy knows how to capture in an excellent illustration. She writes beautifully and succinctly of the things we need to hear, usually with some humor and sharing a fascinating story from her own or a friend's life. At the end of each day's devotion, she writes a short intimate message from God to us, always aligned with the truths of Scripture. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to grow in knowing God.
--Valerie Elliot Shepard


About the Author

Lucinda Secrest McDowell is the author of 13 books including Ordinary Graces: Word Gifts for Any Season and Dwelling Places: Words to Live in Every Season?, has contributed to an additional 30 books, and has been published in more than 50 magazines. A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Furman University, she speaks internationally through her ministry "Encouraging Words." An award-winning writer who has earned accolades from prominent writers' conferences and retreats, McDowell directs reNEW--retreat for New England Writing and has also worked in radio broadcasting and on church pastoral staffs. She writes from "Sunnyside" cottage in Connecticut. Find her online at EncouragingWords.net.

My Review

 Ordinary Graces: Word Gifts for Any Season by Lucinda Secrest McDowell is an inspiring devotional that is perfect for yourself or for a gift.

Ordinary Graces: Word Gifts for Any Season is divided into four sections: grace, strength, gratitude and life. Each one word topic in the devotional begins with a bible quote, then a devotional and ends with a prayer.

Ordinary Graces: Word Gifts for Any Season if filled with meaningful and valuable encouraging words. I highly recommend this devotional.