Seaside Proposal by Narelle Atkins

I loved this book by Narelle Atkins. Themes of forgiveness and hope are interwoven throughout her characters' struggles pulling me into the story.

Billie Ratcliffe has found her birth father. Fear of rejection and betrayal keep her doubting whether to approach him or not. Her birth mother died before she had a chance to meet her. but since Billie avoids church, how can she get to know her real father before telling him the truth? Her experiences in the past with church people have driven her away from the church. Will her birth father be like them and reject her?

Zach Montford is a merchant banker/youth leader. He is deciding to go into full time ministry and leave his steady job with great pay behind. Can he find a future with Billie who avoids church and doesn't seem to have much faith?

Church people are imperfect. Is Billie's father like her experience in the past or is he like the people Zach describes, kind and forgiving? Will he accept her as his daughter or want to hide her away so others won't judge him? What happens when Zach finds out she is hiding this secret from him?

Pick up this great book today! I loved the characters in this one and the story line. The setting is in beautiful Australia.

This story drew me closer to God as I read it. What I kept thinking about after I'd read it was: Don't do something because it is expected of you; do it because it's what you want to do. Like going to church.

A Place to Call Home By: Merrillee Whren

I loved this story by Merrillee Whren. It’s a story of hope, faith, and trust. This book is for anyone who has a hard time putting their past behind them. Our past is not to imprison us. Our hope and trust is in God who can use our pasts and insecurities. A Place to Call Home is a feeling you get when you are accepted and loved for who you are. Don’t miss this book and this very special feeling!

Kurt Jansen needed a job. He had served his sentence and was ready to move on. Molly Finnerty needed someone to restore her house. Can Kurt convince her to give him the job? What would she think of him with a prison record, trying to get custody of his kids, and everyone thinking he’d killed his wife? Kurt will have to find a way to trust Molly and believe God will work his problems out.

Molly has a past she keeps hidden from others. She doesn’t trust anyone for fear they will figure out who she is and what she’s done. Steve Barnett has a prison ministry and Molly is friends with his wife. He sends people to Molly to help out. She is a Christian but has a hard time believing God has forgiven her. Can she trust Kurt with her past while helping him deal with his mother-in-law, gain custody of his children, and prove his innocence? What happens when her past jeopardizes Kurt’s future?

Kurt and Molly need to learn to trust each other, others, and especially God. Both are worried about people’s perceptions of them. They can’t rest in the assurance that God has forgiven them and loves them. They are prisoners of their pasts. If you haven’t read A Place to Call Home, get it today! The engaging characters, the descriptive setting, and life events makes this book a must read!

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

Sisterchicks Do the Hula By: Robin Jones Gunn

What a fun story! Two women, Hope and Laurie, decide to take a trip to Hawaii. They had planned to go when they were in college, but didn’t do it. Years passed and they lost touch with each other. Now, they have reconnected and when they are about to turn 40, they decide to take their trip. Hope has just found out she’s pregnant and Laurie has a career decision to make. Their funny antics while they are on vacation will have you wishing for time with your best friend! Between the beautiful location, the scriptures Hope and Laurie read, and the people they come in contact with, Gunn’s descriptions make you feel the sand, hear the ocean, and connect with the people. Together they learn what life’s all about and how to progress from here. Laurie learns to surf, Hope learns you can continue to have new experiences no matter how old you are, and both of them feel God like never before while they are discovering God’s beauty in Hawaii. The back of the book includes pictures and a few stories behind Sisterchicks Do the Hula. I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

My Son John By Kathi Macias

How well do you really know someone? Even your own family? My Son John is a haunting tale of a mother’s worst nightmare. Liz Peterson receives word that her mother has died. But there’s more. She finds out that she was murdered. After the police question her and her family, Liz finds out that her son John has been arrested for the crime. Life as she has known it ceases to exist. Where is God when tragedy strikes and everyone has deserted you and you feel so alone and incapable? How can Liz go on living life knowing her son has killed her mother? Can Liz continue to love her son in spite of his murderous act? Mercy, grace, love, and hope resonant throughout this unforgettable story of forgiveness. My Son John should come with a warning. I cried, laughed, felt the mother’s pain, and absorbed the feeling of grace and forgiveness that just lifted off each page. Love no matter what, no matter how they turn out, no matter what they do, just keep on loving. What wonderful inspiration, and for it to come from Liz’s father who is in a nursing home and doesn't remember anyone was definitely word from God in Liz’s time of need. Isn’t this how God loves us? Unconditionally, no matter what. The whole time I was reading this book, the song Forgiveness by Matthew West played in my mind. I cannot wait to read more books by Kathi Macias. She does a superb job of intertwining Liz, her husband Charles, and their daughter Sarah’s reactions and journey from learning John has committed murder to acceptance and forgiveness. You must have faith—trust in God no matter what.

When Mockingbirds Sing By: Billy Coffey

Faith, sacrifice, hope, and loss are major elements in this story. The Rainbow Man speaks to Leah Norcross, a child. He sings to her and tells her to draw pictures. Why can’t anyone else see him? Can you believe something you can’t see? What if someone draws a picture? Does that make it any more real? Leah tries hard to make the people of Mattingly understand something is happening, but they won’t listen. They try to run her and her family out of town because of Leah’s drawings that she says the Rainbow Man told her to draw. Leah’s first drawing foretells something happening, and it comes to pass. The town minister, Reggie Goggins, fears God is speaking to her instead of through him. Then, her second drawing is filled with so much darkness, people don’t know whether to believe her, fear her, or dismiss her view of the future. Once you start this book, you won’t be able to put it down. You won’t even remember you’re reading a book. I felt like I was watching a Hitchcock or Stephen King movie. The characters come to life on the page and wrap you up in their story. Barney Moore and his wife Mabel are the first to experience Leah’s foretelling. But since that came true, does that mean the darkness in the second drawing will come true as well? Leah’s father, Tom Norcross, doesn’t believe in God, but then he sees something happen right before his eyes that makes him know Leah is telling the truth. But, how do you convince others of something they are afraid of, can’t see, and don’t want to hear about? Sometimes it’s the littlest among us that have the most faith. See how Leah changes a town with her faith while they suffer loss as the destruction engulfs them. Will the sacrifices some of the town members have to make give room to the faith they will need to overcome? Is the Rainbow Man God-like or is he something else? You’ll have to read the book to find out! I look forward to reading more stories by Billy Coffey! This was a great read and a definite read for anyone who loves suspense-filled novels with real characters and vivid descriptions. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.