Linda's Lunacy

Faith, Home, & Family

Over the Edge – Book Review

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About the Book:

Seth Kincaid survived a fire in a cave, but he’s never been the same. He was always a reckless youth, but now he’s goneover the edge. He ran off to the Civil War and came back crazier than ever.

After the war, nearly dead from his injuries, it appears Seth got married. Oh, he’s got a lot of excuses, but his wife isn’t happy to find out Seth doesn’t remember her. Callie has searched, prayed, and worried. Now she’s come to the Kincaid family’s ranch in Colorado to find her lost husband.

Callie isn’t a long-suffering woman. Once she knows her husband is alive, she wants to kill him. She’s not even close to forgiving him for abandoning her.

Then more trouble shows up in the form of a secret Seth’s pa kept for years. The Kincaid brothers might lose their ranch if they can’t sort things out. It’s enough to drive a man insane–but somehow it’s all making Seth see things more clearly. And now that he knows what he wants, no one better stand in his way. Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/cPxuv (not my affiliate link)

 

Meet Mary:

Mary Connealy writes fun and lively “romantic comedy with cowboys” for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie’s Daughters series, and her novel Calico Canyon was nominated for a Christy Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.

Visit her on her Web site maryconnealy.com

 

 

MY REVIEW:

Over the Edge will keep you on the edge of your chair. Full of action and suspense, it also has some very heart warming moments. Callie met her husband, Seth, while she was a nurse and he was a patient. They married as soon as he got out of the hospital. However, Seth had more than just physical injuries from the war. Due to his trauma from the war, he leaves Callie without a word to her. She finds out she is expecting his baby, and as soon as she is able after the baby is born, they head out to try and find him.

After rough traveling conditions, including a stage robbery and gun fight, Callie finds Seth. Seth does not remember her, though. Which makes it tough, as she remembers him and wants to kill him for what he did. As if they hadn’t had enough trouble, they still have to contend with danger and kidnapping.  Through it all, their love for each other (he finally remembers her!), and their son, draws them together and keeps them together.

 


 Celebrate with Mary by entering to win a Nook Color with GlowLight! 

See what folks are saying about Over the Edge!

 

Mary Connealy Over the Edge Nook Color Giveaway

 

One winner will receive:

  • A Nook Color with GlowLight
  • The entire set of Mary Connealy’s The Kincaid Brides series

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on
August 28th. Winner will be announced at the “Over the Edge” Author Chat Facebook
Party on 8/29. Meet Mary, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a
trivia contest, and more. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize
Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group.)!

So grab your copy of Over the Edge and join Mary on the evening of the August
29th for a chance to connect with her and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read
the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)


FacebookTwitter

 

Don’t miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of
winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

 


*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Knowing Your Ministry: Spiritual Gifts for Every Believer

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today’s Wild Card author is:

 

 

and the book:

 

Whitaker House (June 26, 2012)
***Special thanks to Cathy Hickling of Whitaker House for sending me a review copy.***

 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

 

“Encouraging, optimistic, upbeat and energetic” are just a few of the words used to describe her, and at age 80, Marilyn Hickey is still going strong. In recent years, she’s ministered in Sudan, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, India, China and Pakistan – she’s been to 130 countries over the past 50 years and hopes to visit many more. She also speaks in cities across the U.S. for Bible Encounters and at “miracle breakfasts”. Founder and president of Marilyn Hickey Ministries, many have heard her on radio, seen her on TV, or read one of her many books, pamphlets, or Bible study guides over the years. Most recently she has released The Names of God, Spiritual Warfare, Total Healing, and Your Pathway to Miracles with Whitaker House. Marilyn and her husband, Wallace Hickey, are the founding pastors of Orchard Road Christian Center, Denver, Colorado. They have two grown children, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

 

Sarah Bowling is Wallace and Marilyn Hickey’s daughter — her mission is “to make a radical, eternal difference in today’s world.” She is a Bible teacher, international speaker, author, senior pastor and founder of Saving Moses, an organization dedicated to reducing infant mortality worldwide. Sarah serves as vice president of Marilyn Hickey Ministries and co-host with her mother on the TV show Today with Marilyn and Sarah which reaches 2.2 billion households worldwide. Sarah and husband Reece are senior pastors at Orchard Road Christian Center, Denver. Sarah has taught, traveled, and ministered in over 40 countries at Bible Encounters, healing meetings, and women’s,  pastors’, and leaders’ conferences.

Visit the author’s website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

 

In Know Your Ministry: Spiritual Gifts for Every Believer, renowned Bible teacher Marilyn Hickey with her daughter Sarah Bowling collaborate to present an enlightening overview of the seven foundational gifts of the Holy Spirit found in Romans 12. They demonstrate how the passage offers insights on discovering one’s gifts and calling from God through personal examples, biblical illustrations, and practical application, and lead the reader to discover his or her primary gift. Once identified, the authors explain how one’s core gift relates to and works in tandem with other gifts and how it fits into God’s purposes in the wider Body of Christ. The authors offer direction and encouragement on how to apply and act in one’s area of giftedness, how to renew enthusiasm for serving others, and how to be being fruitful while carrying out God’s purpose in life.

Product Details:

List Price: $11.99

Paperback: 128 pages

Publisher: Whitaker House

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1603745025

ISBN-13: 978-1603745024

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:


–>

 

Chapter 1
The Foundational Gifts
For
as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same
function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members
of one another.
—Romans 12:4–5
Know Your Ministry: Spiritual Gifts for Every Believer will help you to discover your
purpose and destiny. You may think that is a bold statement, and it is. But I
can make it based on the Word of God and on my own experiences through the
years, as I have applied this enlightening teaching about the foundational
gifts to my own life and also taught others how to apply it to theirs.
Likewise, I can make this statement with assurance: reading this book will be a
very personal experience for you as you learn more about who God has marvelously
created you to be.
Most people want to know their
purpose. Nobody wants to just stumble around in life. At some point, we all
wonder, “What am I meant to do on this earth? What direction am I supposed to
take?” If you don’t know where you are going, you won’t know when you get
there, and your life will be out of sync.
To
answer the above questions, we must understand that we have a corporate
purpose, as well as a personal one. As believers, “we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members
of one another” (Romans 12:5). God has called each of us to a
special role in the body of Christ, for the mutual benefit of all. Confusion over their unique roles is a primary reason why people
lack purpose.
Uncertainty About Our Callings
Many
times, we try to operate in areas of ministry or vocation to which we have not been called. We may try to imitate
ministries we admire because of our uncertainty about our own places in the
body of Christ. The results can be devastating: we become frustrated and
discouraged and do a disservice to the people to whom we are trying to
minister.
For
example, have you ever come across a particular ministry and decided, “I’m
going to do exactly what they are doing”? Many years ago, my husband, Wally,
and I were assistant pastors at a church in Amarillo, Texas. Every morning at
9:00 a.m., several of us met to pray. One woman in particular was a true
intercessor. After an hour of prayer, the rest of us were ready to stop—but she
was just warming up! I admired her so much that I—not God—decided that I had a similar calling on my life. One day,
I said to her, “God has called me to be an intercessor—just like you.”
But, to
my surprise, she replied, “No, He hasn’t. You respect me, so you’re trying to
latch onto my position in the body. Marilyn, you need to pray and ask God what
He has really called you to do.” That was very wise spiritual advice that I am
glad I listened to.
At
other times, we may try to compete with other Christians. Before Wally and I
entered the ministry, I met a woman who was a great soulwinner. She would go to
a hospital to minister and end up leading ten to fifteen souls to Christ. I
thought, If she can do it, I can, too!
She won fifteen souls to Christ, so I’ll win twenty! Was that desire
spiritually motivated? No. Actually, it was “carnal”—I was thinking according
to the fallen nature rather than according to the Spirit. (See, for example,
Romans 8:5–10.) I was trying to compete with my sister in the Lord. Why did I
do that? Because I didn’t know where I belonged in the body of Christ.
At still other times, we may wonder
why we don’t feel comfortable in the roles others expect us to fill. Before I
understood the foundational gifts, I felt out of place, trying to fulfill a
role that was not in line with the gifting God had given me.
My husband and I had started a church
in Denver, Colorado, and the congregation had certain expectations of me.
People often assume that a pastor’s wife ought to carry out specific functions
in the life of the local church, and, sometimes, that was troublesome for me.
For instance, many pastors’ wives seem to be musical. I am not. I didn’t play
the piano or the organ, and I didn’t sing well. But the people thought I should
lead the worship. Well, if I had led
the worship, nobody would have worshipped! In addition, I was called upon to
lead the women’s missions projects, which involved rolling bandages, making certain
items for people who had leprosy, and sewing blankets for infants and children.
These activities involved a lot of sewing, and I couldn’t sew well. Frankly,
even though I knew such projects were very worthwhile, I found them boring.
What did I like to do? I liked to
teach the Bible. So, I taught an adult Sunday school class. I also led home
Bible studies, giving women an opportunity to invite their neighbors who were
not Christians to meet and study the Bible over a cup of coffee and a
cookie—and people would get saved!
Even though I loved teaching, I felt
out of sync because, again, my abilities weren’t in line with those of many
other women who were married to pastors. I thought I wasn’t a good pastor’s
wife, and I felt very unspiritual. Yet my life was totally turned around when I
learned about the foundational gifts. I saw what my gift was and how satisfied
I was when I was operating in it, and I didn’t try to function primarily in the
other six gifts, even though I did learn to operate in them more as I grew in
my faith. I thought, I see who I am in
the body: I’m a teacher. There is nothing wrong with my wanting to teach the
Bible. I was so happy to see that God had made me that way. Before the
foundation of the world, He planned to give me certain talents and abilities to
use for Him. (See, for example, Psalm 139:13–16.)
This knowledge gave me a confidence
in what God had prepared for me to do, as well as an ability to trust in the
grace He had given me to accomplish it. It also released the measure of faith that
God had already placed within me to function in my gift of teaching the Bible. (See
Romans 12:3.) I realized that I wasn’t out of place; I wasn’t some “crazy”
pastor’s wife who was going to hurt her husband and his ministry. On the
contrary, I was going to be a blessing to my husband and to the church.
Seven Blessings from God to the Church
In
order to be effective as we minister to others, we must know where we truly
belong in the body. When
you understand your spiritual purpose and recognize the spiritual power contained
in that purpose, life is just awesome. It is encouraging and comforting. Why? Because
you don’t have to compare yourself to anybody else or try to be somebody you
are not. You will become the person God created you to be.
In this
book, we’re going to discover the seven wonderful “foundational gifts” God has
given the church: prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving,
organization, and mercy. Seven is the number of completion, and the Bible says
that we are complete in Christ. (See Colossians 2:10.)
I’ve been able to apply the truths of
these foundational gifts to my life in exciting ways, and I’m eager for you to
apply them to yours, too. I know they will help you to discover your God-given
purpose and direction in life, just as they did for me.
And, as
you study the foundational gifts, you will not only be able to identify your
own gifts, but you will also gain insight about and respect for other people in
the body of Christ. You will see what motivates your brothers and sisters in
the Lord, and you will clearly understand how much you need them. In fact, when
you observe the seven gifts in operation throughout the body of Christ, you will
see Jesus’ complete ministry. Sometimes, we want to be the “Lone Ranger”—we want
to ride into the sunset, calling, “Hi-ho Silver, away!” In other words, we want
to do it all. But we need each other; and, if every gift is not in operation,
we miss the completeness of Christ.
You may
be thinking, Is it possible for me to
have more than one foundational gift? As you study the gifts described in
the following chapters, you may—and probably will—recognize that certain traits
of more than one gift are operational in your life. Most of us are used in a
number of ways when we make ourselves available to Jesus for His purposes. But there will be one gift
(possibly two) that you will identify with most closely and be most comfortable
exercising, and through which you will obtain the most success in ministering
to others. This gift is your greatest strength. Whether it is prophecy,
serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, organization, or mercy, it is your foundational gift.
At the end of this book, there is a gifts assessment test,
entitled the “Foundational (Motivational) Gifts Evaluation,” which we have used
successfully at Marilyn Hickey Ministries for many years. It will help you to
confirm your primary foundational gift. It will also indicate your secondary
gift—the one in which you are the next strongest.
When you see what your primary gifting is, you will begin to
recognize and understand God’s purpose for your life. This is why knowing your
gifting is vital. And, once you have
identified your gift, you will notice how it flows through all your spiritual
activity within the body. For example, if you counsel others, and your
foundational gift is mercy, you will be a merciful counselor. Allow the Holy
Spirit to lead and guide you in this study of the foundational gifts. He will reveal
your perfect position within the body of Christ.
Through the seven foundational gifts
listed in Romans 12, God has shown us in a beautiful way that each of us does,
indeed, have a divine purpose and destiny. What is your purpose? What is the
power for living and for ministry that He has placed in your life? It is found
in one of the foundational gifts explained in the following pages. I invite you to pray now that you will come to recognize your gift
as you read Know Your Ministry: Spiritual
Gifts for Every Believer.
Dear heavenly Father,
I thank You for giving me a unique foundational
gift. I realize that it is not through my own works, but through Your grace,
that I have received this gift. Father, I promise to be available to minister
in my gift whenever You call me to do so. And I promise to keep my mind renewed
to Your Word, so that I will know what Your perfect will is. Now, Father, as I
study the various foundational gifts, I ask that Your Holy Spirit would reveal
to me the identity of my unique, special gift. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

 

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a PDF version of this book for free. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith – Book Review

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Welcome to virtual book review tour for Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith.

Litfuse

About Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith.:

Like oysters, women often encounter unexpected grit during their everyday lives. In response, God’s love and grace covers this grit and transforms the pain into a precious pearl that leaves a layered, luminous lining within a shell: Mother of Pearl. This brilliant luster is strong, lasting, and purposeful—just like the love, lessons, and legacies left by the special women in our lives.

Mother of Pearl celebrates the collective iridescence of motherhood. Margaret McSweeney presents a collection of heartfelt vignettes from authors who communicate the importance of the unique relationships between mothers and their children, between granddaughters and grandmothers and between children and the mother-figures in their lives.

These stories tell of the power of faith, prayer, and values, exploring coming of age, the joy of becoming a mother, the importance of motherhood, the ways to heal from a bad relationship with a mother and weathering the death of a special loved one. Poignant and thought-provoking, the stories serve to inspire, encourage, instill hope, and strengthen faith.

The proceeds from the sale of Mother of Pearl will be donated to organizations helping struggling women and children. The charities include Wings (Women in Need Growing Stronger) to help fund the Safe House in the Chicago suburbs and to Hands of Hope to help build wells for schoolchildren in Zambia. Link to buy Mother of Pearl. (not an affiliate link)

 

Meet Margaret:

Margaret McSweeneyMargaret McSweeney is a well-published author often writing online articles for Make It Better (the former North Shore Magazine) and freelance articles for the Daily Herald, the largest suburban Chicago newspaper. In addition, she has authored and compiled several books including A Mother’s Heart Knows; Go Back and Be Happy; Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, Mother of Pearl and Aftermath.

With a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in international business, Margaret became a vice-president in the corporate finance division of a New York City bank and worked there 1986–93.

As founder of Pearl Girls, Margaret collaborates with other writers on projects to help fund a safe house for WINGS, an organization that helps women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, and to build wells for schoolchildren in Uganda through Hands of Hope. For the past 10 years she has served on the board of directors and leadership advisory board for WINGS. Margaret lives with her husband and 2 daughters in the Chicago suburbs.  www.pearlgirls.info

 

MY REVIEW:

I thoroughly enjoyed the time time I spent reading Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith. There are 57 stories of love, family, faith, and hope. All the stories are only two to three pages long, making it possible for even busy moms to fit in reading this book.

I shared several Mother of Pearl stories for the last two Mother’s Days. If you want to get a feel for the stories in this book, read my 2011 and 2012 Mother of Pearl Mother’s Day Posts.

Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith is a very encouraging and uplifting book for women of all ages. The stories in this book are not just for mothers, but for all women. There are lessons to be learned, and support for every season of life. I don’t have little children any more, and I don’t have grandchildren, but I still found many stories that I could relate to and receive encouragement from.

I highly recommend Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith for all women.

 

To celebrate the release of Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith I’m hosting an evening of chat, laughter, and encouragement on Facebook!

I’ve invited the Pearl Girl contributors to join us on the evening of September 4th. I’d be so
honored if you’d come too!

We’ll be giving away a ton of fun stuff {books, gift certificates and a
Beautiful Pearl Necklace set}.

Mother of Pearl celebrates the collective iridescence of motherhood. We’ll gather to
connect, be encouraged and make some new friends!


 So RSVP today and then come back on September 4th (at 5pm Pacific,
6pm Mountain, 7pm Central, and 8pm Eastern) and join us for the “Pearl” party. Let’s
share our stories and encourage one another.

We’ll also have an update from the charities involved with Pearl Girls, Wings and Hands of Hope.

(See what others are saying about Mother of Pearl.)

 

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Christian Liberty Press: Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers Book Review

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As a part of The Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received the book Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers, in ebook form, to review.

 

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Christian Liberty Press has been producing quality books for homeschoolers for many, many years. When I started homeschooling in 1991, they were one of the companies I purchased books from for our first year.

I’ve used several Christian Liberty products over our twenty years of homeschooling and been pleased with all of them. Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers has proven to be no exception.

Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers, written for grades 7-10, is the first book in a series written by Douglas Bond. It tells the story of two teens who are on vacation in England. They meet and make friends with an elderly English gentlemen called Mr. Pipes. Mr. Pipes is his nickname, because he plays the big pipe organ in church.  As Mr. Pipes spends time with the teens, he teaches them about famous British hymn writers. Since the teens haven’t spent very much time in church, Mr. Pipes helps them learn about the value of traditional praise and worship.

 

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I used Mr. Pipes and The British Hymn Makers as a read aloud. My 12 and 13 year olds, (6th and 8th grades), listened the most, with the 16 and 17 year olds, (11th and 12th grades), listening some of the time. The book is an awesome family read aloud! In the beginning of the book, sometimes you can see the teens behaving as, well, teens. A few sarcastic remarks, an occasional rolling of the eyes. That is what makes it easy for kids to relate to the characters. As the teens in the book spend time with Mr. Pipes, they stop those behaviors. The author did a good job of portraying how the teens felt about spending time someplace they consider boring and with no value.

The hymn writers included are Thomas Ken, Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, William Williams, John Newton, William Cowper, Augustus Toplady, Thomas Kelly, Henry Francis Lyte, James Montgomery, Horatius Bonar, Reginald Heber, William Walsham How, Samuel Stone, Anna Waring, Cecil Francis Alexander, Francis Ridley Havergal, and John Bunyan.

I love that the book includes a hymn with the music for each writer. If you have a musician in the family, you can learn to play and sing all the songs.

If you want to help your children devlop a love for traditional hyms, Mr. Pipes and The British Hymn Makers is the book for you. If your family already loves hymns, this is still a great, wholesome book for the whole family to read.

Mr. Pipes and The British Hymn Makers is available on the Christian Liberty Press website as a PDF download for $8.79. You can also purchase a a Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers print book for $9.89. There are 3 more Mr. Pipes books in the series available on the Christian Liberty website.

 

 

 

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*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook  in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Confessions of a Control Freak Book Review

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today’s Wild Card author is:

 

 

and the book:

 

Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2012)
***Special thanks to Ginger Chen of Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Priscilla Knox Morrison
serves in a women’s prison ministry, speaks at conferences and retreats
on women’s issues, and writes on topics related to these ministries.
Priscilla enjoys entertaining, playing with her grandchildren, reading,
crocheting, and walking in the woods on the Blue Ridge Mountains where
she resides with her husband, Larry.
Visit the author’s website.

 

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

 

For every woman who can’t let go of control—and for those who live and work with them—comes
Confessions of a Control Freak,
by Priscilla Knox Morrison. Through her practical advice and humorous
personal illustrations, readers will learn to accept their limitations
and trust God with
the future.

Product Details:

List Price: $9.99

Paperback: 144 pages

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0736946209

ISBN-13: 978-0736946209

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:


–> 

 

So…What
Are We 

Talking About Here?

We all know a control freak when we see one. It’s the person
hardly anyone can stand to work with because it’s her way or the highway. The
mother whose children have to file their socks. The father who gets obedience
from his family but scares the living daylights out of them. The guy who can’t
relax because things around him aren’t perfect. Or the woman next to me on a
plane recently who not only demonstrated how to put my tray down, but told me
where to put my cup. These people can be the bane of our existence, or worse,
we might realize that we’re control freaks too.
Am I a control freak?
Perhaps you’re honestly asking
yourself, “How do I know if I’m a control
freak?” Here are some recognizable signs:
·
nagging others
·
trying to orchestrate outcomes
·
butting into others’ affairs
·
worrying about things beyond your
control
·
feeling anxiety about the future
·
never feeling peaceful
·
needing everything to be in perfect
order
It takes some harsh
evaluating to recognize some of these habits in yourself. If you’re a detail
person, it’s tricky to wear the planning hat and not put on the micromanaging hat at the same time. Before admitting to
this aspect of my nature, I was a very frustrated person. I grew up in a big
family, and I was the neatnik. I loved to clean and organize and had plenty to
work with since our house was always Grand Central Station. If I was a control
freak when I was younger, though, I certainly wasn’t aware of it! Then I got
married and had children. If you’re single and think you might
be a bit of a control freak, just get married and have some kids. Your
tendencies will blossom into a garden of full-blown habits.
My husband, Larry, and I have six
children. I wanted all six. I love
all six. But it was in parenting that my control freak dilemma surfaced. I
still marvel at how many details come into play for eight people to get through
one day—you have to plan for rising times, cooking, dishes, carpooling,
surprise throw-ups, chores (yours and training them to do theirs), squabbles,
laundry, missing socks, sports (in different locations simultaneously), music
lessons, music practice, weather (which is always a challenge to control),
grocery shopping, phone calls, junk mail (thankfully e-mail hadn’t been
invented during those busy days), paying bills, running to the Emergency Room,
making reservations, visiting friends, helping each child with homework,
doctors’ visits, church activities, clubs, kind deeds, character building,
listening, encouraging, wife-ing, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Over time, I
morphed from detail-person to Frau Commandant. When did I cross the line? Where
did good mothering, wife-ing, and friending end
and controlling begin?
Where does the term
“control freak” come from?
Curious as to how exactly the term
“control freak” became so popular, I decided to look up the word control in the
dictionary. According to Webster, control means…
·
to regulate financial affairs
·
to verify, as an experiment, by
comparison with a standard
·
to exercise authority over; direct;
command
·
to curb; restrain; hold back
·
authority to direct or regulate
·
a means of restraint; check
·
a standard of comparison for verifying
or checking the findings of an experiment
·
an instrument or apparatus to regulate
a mechanism; as, the controls of an airplane
See anything negative here? When I read
this, a light went on. Not all control is bad. I had become so self-critical
about my controlling nature that I was afraid to tell my kids to take out the
trash. My new goal was to figure out how my personality could flourish without
driving others nuts. There might be a place in the world for someone with my
gifts!
If the term “control” isn’t all bad,
then perhaps being controlling isn’t all
bad either. Yes! I asked friends about conditions in which it was proper or
valid to be controlling, and they mentioned these situations:
·
when taking care of children or the
elderly; when you’re responsible for other people
·
when you’re the chairperson of a
committee
·
when you need to take charge in an
emergency
·
when you’re an employer managing a
business
·
when you’re in an experimental
laboratory and there must be strict control of conditions
·
when it’s a question of duty—military
leaders, police officers
·
when it’s forced upon you by people who
are too passive
·
when you’re in church leadership
So what’s a “control
freak”?
You know them. You avoid them:
·
the mother who watches her child’s
every move
·
the friend who tries to orchestrate a
situation to his or her benefit
·
the husband who wants to monitor his
wife’s comings and goings
·
someone who wants to make all the
decisions at the office with no input from others
·
the one who deliberately joins the
committee in order to run the show
·
the acquaintance who continually gives
unsolicited advice
We get the idea. When people call us
control freaks, they’re not paying us a compliment.
When I started journaling on the
subject, I actually thought that control was a woman’s problem. This probably
grew from my frustrations as a wife and mother and knowing so many other women
who were in the same boat. In time I saw that control is, of course, a human
problem. I think we all have our areas where we’d like to have more
control—some of us just have more areas! The urge to control is a universal
trait found in women and men alike. My paternal grandfather, for instance,
controlled the household finances, and my grandmother had to go to him each day
for the grocery money. The man was into control.
Am
I a hopeless case?
In the midst of many happy years of
raising what I felt was a wonderful family came some agonizing times. As life
spun out of control I was frustrated beyond belief. I had many difficult
lessons to learn if we were all going to survive. Three things helped me make
progress.
1.
Finding that the Bible, God’s holy
Word, was relevant for today. And not only was it relevant, but it was true,
and it worked. Whenever I took the time to search out an answer in Scripture, I
got help. And amidst all the wisdom and help was a relational God who loved me
and graciously revealed purpose to all I was going through.
2.
Reading several books, which I’ll
reference throughout. It’s fun to keep learning and discovering through the
wisdom and experience of those who have been through the same struggles.
3.
Discovering prayer. I was raised in a
Christian home, I married a pastor, and I taught my kids about Jesus, all
without much prayer. Simple, right? Nope—it was the hardest—and most
foolish—thing I ever tried.
What drives us to
control others, or even just our own circumstances?
Some of what drives me—and perhaps you
too—will be covered in the following chapters. Each of us has our own past and
our own unique personality, both of which form our reactions and responses to
life. But control freaks all have some things in common. They might say things
like…
·
I actually have more talents and
abilities than some others I work with.
·
I want to feel better about myself.
·
I’m afraid—afraid of the future, afraid
of losing control, afraid to trust someone else, afraid of failure, and afraid
for those I love.
Are any of these statements true for
you? If so, perhaps you will identify with one or more of the confessions that
follow. If you find yourself in these pages, I hope you will turn to the God
who enlightens, forgives, delivers, and, most of all, loves.
Before we dive in, take a few minutes
to consider the following questions about your own need to take control and
your attitude toward those who seek to control you.
CONTROL FREAK QUESTIONNAIRE
1.
In your own words, describe a control
freak.
2.
Would you consider yourself to be a
control freak? Why or why not? (If not, skip to question 10.)
3.
If yes, does this bother you about
yourself? Why or why not?
4.
Do others accuse you of being a control
freak? If so, why do you think they do?
5.
Does it bother you that others feel
this way toward you? Why?
6.
What might you like to change about
yourself, if anything, as it relates to this issue?
7.
What do you think may cause you to seek
control? Is it just a part of your personality? Does it relate to your
childhood experiences?
8.
How did you first become aware of this
tendency?
9.
Can you think of certain circumstances
that cause you to want control?
10. Think
of someone you would describe as a control freak. What do you think causes them
to act in this way?
11. Do
you have a good relationship with this person? If you do, how have you learned
to get along with them? If not, what changes would need to be made before you
could be close?
12. What
do you find most difficult about your relationship with this person? Have you
been able to talk with them about it? If so, what was the outcome?
13. If
you could communicate one idea to this person, what would it be?
14. Do
you think it is ever proper/valid to be controlling? Explain.
15. If
you are a person who reads the Bible, what have the Scriptures taught you in
regard to the desire to control other people and events?
16. What
have other people and life experiences taught you about control issues?

 

My Confessions of a Control Freak Book Review:

While I don’t think I’m a control freak, although my family might disagree, I found Confessions of a Control Freak helpful. I think I’m more of a perfectionist than a control freak. I have worked on it though, and have set aside my perfectionism for the most part.

Confessions of a Control Freak has practical advice that you can use everyday to ease up the control one feels they have to have over people and situations. This book is also helpful for perfectionists. If we are trying to control everybody and everything thing, we have not given full control everything to God. The author shares numerous real life examples of her own and other’s control issues. Thereby helping the reader see theirs. She doesn’t just point out the problem, she helps offer you Biblical solutions to the control issues we face.

If your not a control freak or perfectionist, but you live with or are related to one, Confessions of a Control Freak will help you, too.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this books free  in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Apologia – I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist Book Review

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As part of The Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received the book I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. I also received Apologia’s I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist Curriculum Workbook to review.

 

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I used and reviewed two Apologia books earlier this year.  Who is My Neighbor? and Who Am I?. Those are written for ages 6-14. I was glad for the chance to do another review for Apologia. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist is not by Apologia but is written by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek. Apologia has created a curriculum workbook to accompany the book. This book is written for adults, and the curriculum workbook is written for high school students.

 

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To some, the concept of having faith in a higher power or a set of religious beliefs is nonsensical. Indeed, many view religion in general, and Christianity in particular, as unfounded and unreasonable. Norman Geisler and Frank Turek argue, however, that Christianity is not only more reasonable than all other belief systems, but is indeed more rational than unbelief itself. With conviction and clear thinking, Geisler and Turek guide readers through some of the traditional, tested arguments for the existence of a creator God. They move into an examination of the source of morality and the reliability of the New Testament accounts concerning Jesus. The final section of the book deals with a detailed investigation of the claims of Christ. This volume will be an interesting read for those skeptical about Christianity, as well as a helpful resource for Christians seeking to articulate a more sophisticated defense of their faith.

 

I read this book myself for the review. When I first started reading it, I wondered to myself how I was going to finish the book in the time I had before the review was due. The first section of the book is devoted to the science of the Bible, proving that creation did indeed occur. I found it to be slow reading, just because of the amount of scientific knowledge presented.  Once I got to the next few chapters on the history of the Bible I enjoyed the book much more. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist is a very in depth book. In fact, I think it should be read over a longer period of time than the few weeks I took. I believe that’s why it’s a perfect that it has a companion workbook. This book is better read and studied a little at a time. There is just so much information to read, study and remember. I’m not going to get into any theology presented in the book, you’ll have to read it for yourself. However, I do believe that I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist does provide plenty of scientific and historical evidence that everything presented in the Bible is true. If you’re interested in the science and history of the Bible, you’ll love I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist.

I think the book also does a great job of explaining the different world religions. Here is one graphic from the book that I found helpful. It shows the difference between theism, pantheism, and atheism.

 

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I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist sells on the Apologia website for  $16. You can view the Table of Contents and a Sample Chapter.

 

I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist Curriculum Workbook

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Introducing Apologia’s first apologetics curriculum for high school students! Based on Norman Geisler and Frank Turek’s best-selling book I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, this study will prepare teens and young adults to defend their Christian faith with boldness and effectiveness. During this course, your student will tackle the question of absolute truth, demolish the follies of postmodernism, debunk moral relativism, and march logically and surely toward the inescapable truths of the Christian faith. This is a companion study, so your student will need a copy of the original book, which is available through Apologia.

 

I did not write in the workbook as I wanted it to be ready for my high school students. However I have spent some time reading through the lessons. It is a very thorough workbook that will have your student or yourself digging deep into what they believe and why. This workbook is written for high age students. I think it is best suited for 17 and 18 year olds. Maybe 16 depending on their depth of understanding of science and spiritual matters. I’m now trying to decide when would be a good time to assign this book and work book to my high school students. I want them to be old enough and mature enough to get the most out of it. The chapters in the workbook each correspond to a chapter in the book. Included are brief biographies of people who helped shape Christian and non-Christian worldviews, vocabulary activities, questions to further encourage students to think about the content and more.

I’m going to recommend I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist to my husband and others. I also have a couple of people on my gift list that would love this book. I think the work book would be great for adults, too, as it really helps you understand and apply the information in the book.

The I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist Workbook sells for $33. on the Apologia website. You can view the  Table of Contents and a Sample Chapter.

 

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*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received these books free  in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Angel of the Cove by Sandra Robbins Review

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today’s Wild Card author is:

 

 

and the book:

 

Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2012)

***Special thanks to Ginger Chen of Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Sandra Robbins and her husband live in the small college town in Tennessee where she grew up. They count their four children and five grandchildren as the greatest blessings in their lives. Her published books include stories in historical romance and romantic suspense. When not writing or spending time with her family, Sandra enjoys reading, collecting flow blue china, and playing the piano.
Visit the author’s website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Anna Prentiss wants to be a nurse, but first she has to spend a summer in Cades Cove apprenticing to the local midwife. Anna is determined to prove herself…but she never expected to fall in love with the Cove. Has God’s plan for Anna changed? Or is she just starting to hear Him clearly?

Product Details:

List Price: $13.99

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0736948848

ISBN-13: 978-0736948845

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Mountain air was supposed to be cool. At least that’s what she’d always heard.

 

Anna Prentiss couldn’t be sure because she’d never been this far into the mountains before. But if truth be told, they still had a fair piece to go before they reached the hills that rolled off into the distance.

 

The narrow dirt road that led them closer to those hills twisted and bumped its way along. The June heat had dried out the winter mud in this part of Tennessee and produced a dust that threatened to choke her, roiling up and around the buggy. Anna covered her mouth with the lace handkerchief her mother had tucked in her dress pocket and sneezed. The smudge left on the cloth made her wonder what her face must look like.

 

She glanced at Uncle Charles, her father’s brother, who sat beside her on the leather seat of the buggy. Perspiration had cut meandering, dusty trails down his cheeks, but he didn’t appear to notice. His attention was focused on trying to avoid the holes that dotted the road.

 

She wiped at her face once more before stuffing the handkerchief back in her pocket. It really didn’t matter what she looked like. There was no one to see her. The only living creatures she’d seen all day were some white-tailed deer that had run across the road in front of them and a fox that had peered at her from his dusky hiding place beside the road. In front of them trees lined the long roadway that twisted and turned like a lazy snake slithering deeper into the mountain wilderness. She’d come a long way from the farm in Strawberry Plains.

 

A twinge of homesickness washed over her. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. The uneasy feeling lingered a moment, but with a determination she’d only recently acquired, she banished thoughts of those she’d left behind to the spot in her heart where her grief lay buried.

 

Just then the buggy hit a hole, and Anna grabbed the seat to keep from bouncing onto the floorboard. Uncle Charles flicked the reins across the horse’s back and glanced at her, his spectacles resting on the bridge of his nose. Wispy gray hair stuck out from underneath a black hat.

 

“Hold on. These roads can be a little rough. We had a hard winter up here.”

 

Anna nodded, straightening herself on the buggy seat and studying her uncle’s profile. How many times had he ridden this way to take care of the mountain people he loved? He looked every bit the country doctor. His smooth hands, so unlike her father’s work-roughened ones, gripped the reins tighter as he grinned at her.

 

The corner of his mouth curled downward when he smiled, just as her father’s had always done. That was the only similarity she’d ever seen in them, though. Uncle Charles used to say he got the brains and Poppa got the brawn. When she was a little girl, she wondered what he meant. But she knew no matter what it implied, the two brothers shared a bond like few she’d ever seen. And they were the only ones who’d ever encouraged her to follow her dream of becoming a nurse.

 

Anna took a deep breath and inhaled the heavy, sweet smell that drifted from the forests on either side of the road. She turned to Uncle Charles. “I’ve been noticing those white flowers that look like shrubs growing along the road. What are they?”

 

“Those are our mountain rhododendron,” said Uncle Charles. “There are also pink and purple ones. Sometimes in the summer you can stand on a ridge and look across the mountains at the rhododendrons blooming, and it looks like somebody took a paintbrush and colored the world. It’s a mighty beautiful sight.”

 

Anna swiveled in her seat again and looked at Uncle Charles. “Thank you for working out this trip for me.”

 

A grin tugged at his mouth. “How many times would you say you’ve thanked me today?”

 

“Not enough yet.”

 

A sudden breeze ruffled the straw hat her mother had given her, and Anna grabbed the wide brim. After a moment she released it and pulled the handkerchief from her pocket again. Grasping it with both hands, she twisted the cloth until it stretched taut between her fingers. “I hope I don’t disappoint Mrs. Lawson.”

 

He didn’t take his eyes off the road but shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about that. She’s been delivering babies in Cades Cove for a long time, and she’s glad to have an extra pair of hands. It’ll be good experience before you leave for nursing school in the fall.”

 

The old anger rose in Anna’s throat. “Only if Robert agrees.” She spit out the barbed words as if they pierced the inside of her mouth. “Why does he have to be so selfish?” She clenched her fists tight together. Ever since their father’s death Robert had assumed the role as head of the family, and he took his responsibilities seriously. Too seriously, if you asked Anna. He never missed an opportunity to tell her how their father wasn’t around anymore to cater to her every whim. The first time he’d said that she felt as if he’d shattered her heart. The pieces had never mended as far as her relationship with him was concerned. But if things went as planned, she would soon be free of his authority.

 

“I don’t want you to be angry with your brother, Anna. You may not understand his reasons, but he’s trying his best to be the head of your family. He’s still young and has a lot to learn, but he loves you and wants what’s best for you.”

 

Anna crossed her arms and scowled. “All he wants is for me to stay on the farm and marry somebody he thinks will make a good husband.” Anna shook her head. “Well, that’s not what I want. Poppa promised me I’d be able to go. Robert has no right to keep that money hostage.”

 

“I know. Your father would have been so proud to know you’ve been accepted.” Uncle Charles’s shoulders drooped with the sigh that drifted from his mouth. “Try to see it from his perspective. You’ve led a sheltered life on the farm, and Robert feels like you aren’t ready for what you’ll see and have to deal with in a big hospital in New York. You think you’ll be able to assist injured and dying people, but it’s different when you’re right there with somebody’s life in your hands. If you find you can’t do it, then Robert is out the money for your tuition, not to mention travel and living expenses.” He cocked a bushy eyebrow at Anna. “And he doesn’t need to be wasting money that can be put to good use on the farm.”

 

“I know. He’s told me often enough.” Anna smoothed out her skirt and straightened in her seat. “I’m just thankful you came up with a plan that Robert agreed to. Spending the summer with Mrs. Lawson ought to prove I have the grit to handle New York.”

 

“Remember you’ll need a good report from Granny Lawson.”

 

Anna smiled. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’m going to listen to her and do everything she tells me, no matter how distasteful I think the task is.” She clenched her fists in her lap. “When I board that train for New York in the fall, it will all be worth it.”

 

Uncle Charles shook his head and chuckled. “I’ll leave New York and all its hustle and bustle to you. I prefer to spend my time right here in these mountains.”

 

Anna let her gaze rove over the trees on either side of the road. “Still, maybe you’ll come visit me someday. I can show off the maternity ward!”

 

He flicked the reins across the horse’s back. “I’ve read a lot about that ward. First one in the country. You’ll be fortunate to work there. But don’t forget you may see a lot of babies born this summer while you’re at Granny’s cabin. And there’s not a better place in the world to learn about nursing. She can teach you things you would never learn at Bellevue. Listen to her and do what she says and you’ll be fine.”

 

Anna nodded. “I will.” Her hat slipped to the side, and she reached up and straightened it. “I really can’t thank you enough, Uncle Charles. Everything’s coming together just the way I planned it, and nothing—not even Robert—is going to stand in my way.”

 

Uncle Charles sucked in his breath and directed a frown at her. “Nothing? We can only follow the plan God has for us, Anna.”

 

She settled back on the seat and cast her eyes over the hazy hills in front of them. “But that is God’s plan for me.”

 

“And how do you know?”

 

“Because it’s what I’ve dreamed about all my life. God’s never tried to change my mind.”

 

“Maybe you’ve never listened to Him.” Uncle Charles stared at her a moment. “Like I said, pay attention to what Granny says. She’ll teach you how God uses those He’s chosen to take care of the sick. It isn’t all done with medicine, Anna. A lot of my medical successes—and Granny’s as well—have come about after a lot of prayer.”

 

The buggy hit another bump, and Anna bounced straight up. As far as she could see, the rippling Smoky Mountains stretched out toward the horizon. A plume of wispy fog hung over the valleys. A strange world awaited her out there.

 

Mrs. Johnson, the owner of the inn where they’d stayed in Pigeon Forge last night, had taken great pleasure in warning her of what she might face in Cades Cove this summer. Anna clasped her hands in her lap and glanced at Uncle Charles. “Mrs. Johnson said the folks who live in Cades Cove don’t take to strangers.”

 

Uncle Charles nodded. “That doesn’t surprise me. What else did she say?”

 

Anna took a deep breath and brushed at the new layer of dust on her skirt. “Oh, not much. Just that everybody knows it’s a closed society in the Cove, but it doesn’t matter because no sensible person would want to live there anyway. She called the people there a strange lot.”

 

Uncle Charles cocked an eyebrow and chuckled. “Is that right? I hope you didn’t believe her. I know every family in the Cove, and some of them are my good friends.” He hesitated a moment. “Of course you’re going to find some who cause problems—just like you would anywhere else.”

 

“Like the moonshiners?”

 

He turned to stare at her with wide eyes. “What did Mrs. Johnson tell you about moonshiners?”

 

“She said all the men were moonshiners. Are they?”

 

Uncle Charles threw back his head and laughed as if he’d just heard the funniest joke of his life. After a few seconds he shook his head. “Nothing could be further from the truth. There may be a few who give the Cove people a bad reputation, but most of the men work too hard to waste their time on such nonsense.” He reached over and patted her hand. “I wouldn’t leave you in a place where you weren’t safe. Mrs. Johnson may run a good inn, but she’s the worst gossip in these mountains.”

 

Anna heaved a sigh of relief. “I guess I’m just a little nervous. I want everybody to like me.”

 

“They will. Just be yourself and they’ll all love you.”

 

Uncle Charles meant well, but doubt still lingered in her mind. Would the people of the Cove accept a stranger into their small community? And if they didn’t, what good could she possibly do in this place?

 

She had to succeed. Her future depended on it. She squared her shoulders. There was no turning back.

 

As the day wore on, they found themselves deeper in the hills. As they did, a slow awakening began to dawn in the deepest corner of her soul. She’d never seen anything as beautiful as the lush growth that covered the vast mountain range. The air now grew cooler, just as she’d expected it to be, and the sweet smell of mountain laurel mingled with the rhododendrons. As her uncle’s horse, Toby, plodded along the rocky trail that grew steeper with each step, she saw the world through new eyes and stared in awe at the wonders of nature unfolding before her.

 

For the last hour she’d sat silent and watched the shallow river that flowed beside the road. The water bubbled over rocks like huge stepping-stones scattered across its bed, and the rippling sound had a lulling effect. She wished they could stop so she could pull off her shoes and wade in the cold mountain stream, but there was no time for such fun today. She turned her attention back to the steep hillside on the other side of the road.

 

“It’s beautiful here.”

 

Uncle Charles glanced at her. “We’re just about to Wear’s Valley. When we get there, we’ll be close to Cades Cove.”

 

Anna wondered if Uncle Charles was tired of her questions about the Cove. She hoped not. She settled in her seat and said, “Tell me more about Cades Cove, Uncle Charles.”

 

He pushed his hat back on his head and stared straight ahead. “Well, if you’ve noticed, we’ve been following that stream as the road’s climbed. Pretty soon now we’re gonna reach a place where we turn away from it and head into a flat valley right in the middle of the mountains. That’s Cades Cove. It’s almost like God just took His giant hand and tucked a little piece of heaven right down in the Smokies. The land’s fertile—not so many rocks you can’t farm—and completely surrounded by mountains. You’re gonna love it when you see it, Anna.”

 

“How many people live there?”

 

He pursed his lips and squinted into the distance. “I’d say there are about two hundred fifty scattered throughout the Cove nowadays. Some left for town life—better work there, you know—but they’ll never find a place that’s as beautiful as these mountains.”

 

“How far is it from Mrs. Lawson’s house to where you live?”

 

He thought for a moment. “It’s not that far as the crow flies, but it takes me almost three hours going around these roads.”

 

A lump formed in her throat. Now that they were closer, she didn’t want him to leave. She scooted a little closer to him on the bench of the buggy. “Will you stay at Mrs. Lawson’s tonight?”

 

He shook his head. “No, I’ll have enough daylight left to get home. But don’t worry, I’ll come to the Cove from time to time to check on you. Granny does a good job of taking care of the folks there, but she knows when it’s serious enough to send for me.”

 

Anna clasped her hands in her lap to keep him from seeing them tremble. The time had come to begin the test. She couldn’t fail. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. She dredged up all the determination she could muster. No, she wouldn’t fail.

 

“How long before we get there, Uncle Charles?”

 

“Not much longer. The entrance is up ahead.”

 

 

My Review:

Angel of the Cove is about a young woman, Anna, who has always wanted to be a nurse. Her family has her go live with an old mountain midwife before sending her off to nursing school.

While learning from the midwife, Anna learns even more about herself. Angel of the Cove is a great read about having dreams for your life and giving those dreams to God, so He can give you back more than you ever dreamed of.

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