Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker


I am not a bandwagon reader, so I just read “7″ this summer, a couple of years later than many in Christian circles. I think that it was the right time for me to read it, to be honest, as this is a bonus summer for us: the rare gift of an extension on my husband’s assignment combined with not being able to teach, meant I had the entire summer to go through the house room by room, through closets, drawers, and storage shelves, in a pre-PCS purge. “7″ met me right where I was.

After reading the book and her blog for a while, I requested to blog about Interrupted for Jen Hatmaker’s blog tour, and I chose to blog here at Wives of Faith. In Jen’s own words, this is “the book of my heart, the single one I’d keep if I had to choose.” After reading it, I can see why. “7″ is merely a sequel. . . .

I'm over on Wives of Faith reviewing Jen Hatmaker's revised book Interrupted. Please head on over to Wives of Faith to read the rest of my review, and learn how you can enter the giveaway for a paperback copy of the book.

(Note: the link to the book is through Amazon Smile, which will donate a portion of your purchase to a charity of your choice. Please consider Wives of Faith, Inc. as your organization, and help support military wives ministry.)

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Perfect Life Begone

Are you ready for #BraverLiving ? Read on...


Are you crumbling under the burden of perfection?

You know the expectations are unreasonable–even unreachable.
And when everyone else seems more together than you, where do you turn for help?

Meet Kathi, a disguised perfectionist always looking to put everyone else's needs above her own, and Cheri, a formerly confused and exhausted poster girl for playing it safe. They've struggled just like you–and found the cure. With unabashed empathy and humor, they invite you to take part in their rebellion against perfection. Step-by-step they'll teach you how to challenge and change unhealthy beliefs. As they free you from always seeking more or needing the approval of others, you'll discover a new, braver way of living. At last, you'll exchange outdated views of who you should be for a clearer vision of who you are in Christ.

The truth is you don't have to be perfect.

You just have to be brave enough to read this book.

The Review:

When I found out I had been accepted into the launch team for this book, I thought I was pretty blessed indeed. I know perfectionism is something I've struggled with for my whole life, and often I feel like I'm alone in my struggles. What I didn't expect was finding a tribe of women on this launch team who I consider "My People." They struggle in many of the same ways I do. They all thought they were the only ones who struggled with the P-Bullies: Perfectionism, Procrastination, People-Pleasing, and Performancism. Guess what? We aren't. Those bullies are everywhere, especially in Christian women's circles. They do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, geographical location, socioeconomic status, education level, or size. 

Guess what else? Now we're all rebels. 

I am so thankful to Kathi and Cheri for writing this book. It is wonderful. It's practical, honest, has a quiz for each chapter so the reader can self-assess, and suggestions for "tiny acts of rebellion" to fight against the P-Bullies. It is sprinkled with other women's stories as well as ones from Kathi and Cheri, and I gleaned so much from this book.

Do it. Be a rebel. Join the #BraverLiving rebellion against these bullies. You can read more on the book's Facebook community page too.

My copy of the book, with summer reading program bookmark and a bracelet I won in an auction to raise money for an online friend's husband's medical bills. He passed away before the auction occurred. This bracelet will remind me to pray for her, and it will remind me to make the braver choice in fighting these P-Bullies.

If you'd like to win a copy of this book, leave a comment on this post!

Other resources:

The Blog Tour for #BraverLiving


Website Link:  http://www.TheCureForThePerfectLife.com


FREE download of Chapter 1:  http://www.thecurefortheperfectlife.com/downloads/chapter1.pdf 

Facebook Page (aka “Braver Living Rebel Headquarters”):
http://www.Facebook.com/TinyActsOfRebellion



PODCASTS:  Listen to Kathi and Cheri (the authors) chat about the 4 P "Bullies."
*Part 1
*Part 2
**Giveaway Details**
The giveaway is closed. Thank you!
To be eligible for this sweepstakes-type book giveaway, please leave a comment on this post before midnight Pacific time on Friday, August 29, 2014.
I will use Random.org to choose a winner, who will receive a signed copy
of this book as a prize directly from the authors and their publisher. 

 **Review Details** 
I received a copy of this book as part of the launch team from the publisher, Harvest House, solely for review and promotion purposes, with no other expectation than I post an honest review.

Monday, August 04, 2014

CFBA: A Heart to Heal by Allie Pleiter

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Heart to Heal
Love Inspired (July 15, 2014)
by
Allie Pleiter


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and nonfiction. An avid knitter, harp player and non-reformed chocoholic, she spends her days writing books, doing laundry, running carpools and finding new ways to avoid housework. Allie grew up in Connecticut, holds a BS in speech from Northwestern University and currently lives in suburban Chicago, Illinois. The "dare from a friend" to begin writing eight years ago has blossomed into a career that includes numerous public speaking engagements, two books on parenting; Becoming a Chief Home Officer and Facing Every Mom's Fears and now novels for Steeple Hill Books. She is the mother of two children and, most recently, a Havanese dog named Bella.


ABOUT THE BOOK

The Courage To Hope.

Guidance counselor Heather Browning is desperate. She needs a mentor to help Simon, a disabled student who is struggling at Gordon Falls High School. Unfortunately, hotshot Max Jones is her only option. Confrontational and cavalier, Max uses his flashy persona to hide the bitterness he's felt since his life-changing accident. Perpetually cautious, Heather finds Max's bad-boy bravado as intriguing as it is infuriating. But as Heather and Max work together to build Simon's self-confidence, they begin to trust each other. Max has never been slow and careful with anything. Can he be gentle with Heather's heart?

Gordon Falls: Hearts ablaze in a small town.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of A Heart to Heal, go HERE.

Pattie's Review:

Love Inspired books are a known quantity, and a known quality. When a reader of inspirational fiction picks up one of these smallish books, s/he knows what it will be and how it will end pretty much right away. The journey to the happily-ever-after, though, is the fun part.

Enter Allie Pleiter and A Heart to Heal. Max "Hot Wheels" Jones and Heather Browning's romance is the most different Love Inspired story I think I've ever read. So if you're looking for a different kind of story in this genre of known quantities, choose Allie's August novel. I recommend it for a nice end-of-summer story.