Never the Bride by Cheryl McKay & Rene Gutteridge

Never the Bride is the story of Jessie Stone. Since she was a little girl, Jessie has dreamed of her wedding day. Not just the wedding, but the proposal as well. And not just 'the' proposal... but hundreds!

Yes, with her purple feather pen in hand, Jessie has spent most of her life planning that special day with that special guy. She has her story all written out... she just needs the man that fits into it. At 35, every man she meets is a prospect. She's wondering if this special guy will ever come along.  But then... God comes along and wants her to surrender her pen. Can Jessie stop telling God how her life should be and let God write her story?

Jessie is a strong, independent woman who is looking for her 'happily ever after'. She has such a quirky, fun personality that you can't help but love her. Reading along as Jessie is learning how to walk with God and surrender her will to Him helped me to look at myself as well. I love the style of the book... a fun story filled with heartbreak and humor... with a spiritual message in the mix. The other characters were just as great... Malia, Nicole, Blake, Brooklyn and Garrety... you'll love them all. Great book! 


*I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for my honest review. ~Thanks! :)

The One Day Way by Chantel Hobbs

It's time to take it one day at a time! The One Day Way by Chantel Hobbs teaches you how. By focusing on food, faith, and fitness, TODAY.... you can learn how to achieve your weight loss goals and live a healthier life.... tomorrow.

This IS a diet book. But in this diet book, you learn how to take it a day at a time. There are many books out there, believe me, I've tried a lot of them. But what I like most about this one, is the fact that Chantel Hobbs breaks down the bigger goal. You don't have to be overwhelmed or feel guilty when you 'mess up'. There is nothing you can do to change the past, but you have a choice of what you will do today. It's a simple concept, but a great one. After telling my husband about this book... he uses Chantel's 'One Day Way' in other areas of life as well. His new catch phrase is "I can do it... Just One More Day".

This is a simple book to read. Chantel Hobbs brings her personal experiences into it, which makes it easy to relate to her. She knows where we've been, because she's been there too. She teaches us not to be interested in perfection... but in progress. I like that. It seems like a goal I can keep and will certainly try.

Included in the book are simple exercises and a healthy eating plan. The One Day Way is very encouraging and I think you will enjoy it. 

*I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for my honest review.



Thanks for reading and God bless!
Mary Ann :)

Love At Last Sight by Kerry & Chris Shook

"Love At Last Sight: 30 Days to Grow and Deepen Your Closest Relationships" is a book about relationships. Simple as that. It's written to show you how to have better relationships with those closest to you... your spouse, parents, children, or even a close personal friend. It isn't just another marriage book.

I had mixed feelings about this book. At times I felt as if I'd read it all already... and at other times, I felt as if it were all new to me. My conclusion? It is valuable information that you may have read in another book or two about relationships. Not much new here. BUT... what I did find interesting is the format of the book itself.

At the end of each chapter, you are given a Love At Last Sight Challenge. The authors leave you with a kind of 'to-do' list to put into practice what you've just read. I think that makes a huge difference. While I may have read the information before and could say I 'knew' it, I could not say that I actually used the information and applied it to my relationships. Being challenged to do so is where the real changes begin.

If you are serious about making your relationships better, this book will help you do that. But it's like a diet... you can't just read it and say it works or doesnt' work. You have to do the "do's". If you do that, I think you'll be happy with the results.

*I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for my honest review.

Thanks for reading and God bless!
Mary Ann :)

"The Walk" by Shaun Alexander

Not long ago, I saw Shaun Alexander on a t.v. interview, and then decided I needed to read his book. Imagine how excited I was when I found it available through the Blogging for Books program. And I'm so glad I did. For me, it was probably one of the best books I've read.

In "The Walk", Shaun Alexander tells us how important it is to walk with God... not lagging a step behind or trying to get a step ahead, but allowing God to set the pace for our lives. He points out that God is a God of order. His work in our lives is not random. He leads us through various stages of spiritual maturity.

The author explains in great, yet simple detail the five stages we go through for our spiritual growth. Those five stages being: Unbeliever, Believer, Example, Teacher, and Imparter. He points out how God can use us no matter what stage we are in... but each stage is important for the sake of our maturity in Christ.

There is a detailed chapter on each stage that includes Biblical references along with Shaun's personal experiences. Simple truths expressed in a simple, yet informative and encouraging way. A great book to help get a clear understanding of your 'walk' with God and how it leads to spiritual growth.

*I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for my honest review.

Thanks for reading and God bless!
Mary Ann :)