As the Tide Comes In by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall

This book has it all: humor, love, sadness, and most of all, inspiration. Tara has struggled through life as a foster child and she finally finds her place in the world as she takes over as guardian for her younger brothers. When tragedy strikes, Tara's world is turned upside down and she questions God's plan. Tara finds refuge in an Island town in Georgia and in a unique group of women named the Glynn Girls. The Glynn Girls and their kind-hearted son Gavin make it their mission to help Tara find answers about her past and deal with the grief that is taking over her life.

The flow of this book was great as the story completely comes full circle by the last pages. Readers will experience an array of emotions as they peruse the pages. The comic relief of the Glynn Girls really lightens up the tragic part of this book and provides an excellent variation to the story. This is an inspiring read for those who are experiencing loss or grief in their lives. There are many helpful tidbits and attempts to answer questions for people who may be struggling to come to terms with bad things that happen in a broken world. I enjoyed this book and am thankful to have received an advance copy as a member of Cindy Woodsmall's launch team.

The Healthy Living Handbook by Laura Harris Smith

The Healthy Living Handbook was not at all what I expected. I was expecting a diet book with tips for healthy eating, but it actually contained a lot more than that. This book is divided into three sections: healthy living for the spirit, mind, and body. Each section has ten chapters with tips for better health in these particular areas. There is also a section for reflection and prayer at the end of each chapter.

I am on the fence about this book. I didn't agree with all of the information I read and I honestly felt like the author was very extreme in some situations and I received a judgmental vibe while reading some of this material. I am very conservative so when it comes to speaking in tongues and changing the way I pray, I'm not too comfortable with all that. However, I did like the overall reason the book was written which is to promote a healthier lifestyle. I also liked the sections that gave practical advice for choosing healthier foods, staying hydrated, and getting more rest. The author is obviously very driven and motivated and has a unique lifestyle.

Thank you very much to Chosen for the chance to review this book!

The Road Home by Beverly Lewis

When you pick up a book by Beverly Lewis you just know it will be good. She is such a dependable author who never disappoints. I also had the pleasure of meeting her at a book signing so I am always excited when she has a new release.

In The Road Home, Lena Rose and her nine siblings live with their parents in an Amish community in Michigan. Tragedy suddenly strikes and the children are left as orphans. Sadly, there is no way for the siblings to stay in their home without their parents to provide for them, so they have to be split up into the homes of family and friends. Lena Rose ends up over 500 miles away from her beloved family and she struggles as she grieves her parents and misses her siblings immensely. Lena Rose is a bright light and a helper to those in need so she flourishes in her new life, but that doesn't take away her desire to be reunited with her siblings.

This book is such a nice, cozy read. There are so many inspiring parts to this story and many examples of true love. I absolutely loved Lena Rose's character and the other characters are also very engaging. I would love to read more about Lena Rose and her siblings in the future. Thank you to Bethany House for the chance to review this book and thank you to Beverly Lewis for another great read! Make sure to put this on your summer reading list!

A Most Noble Heir by Susan Anne Mason

I read this at the perfect time as the royal wedding will be happening soon! This book definitely had me feeling all royal and such!

Nolan Price is employed as a stable hand at Stainsby Hall and he has his heart set on a kitchen maid named Hannah Burnham. Nolan doesn't feel like he has much to offer Hannah, but he hopes that his love will be enough. He begins devising a plan that will allow him to make a life for Hannah away from Stainsby Hall. Nolan's well laid plans are quickly uprooted as he learns a life-changing secret. His father is the Earl of Stainsby. Nolan cannot stand the thought of losing Hannah so he convinces her to elope with him quickly before their marriage can be forbidden due to Hannah's lower class status. This speedy decision causes much turmoil as Nolan attempts to form a relationship with his father and keep his marriage intact at the same time.

I really enjoyed this book by Susan Anne Mason. The storyline is unique and interesting. There is also a wonderful element of surprise throughout. There are many lessons to be learned throughout this book with forgiveness being a major theme. This refreshing and dependable read is one I am sure to recommend. Thank you so much to Bethany House for the chance to review this book!

Storm Front by Susan May Warren

I love this book! The cover, the author, the characters...love it all! I haven't read the other books in this series so I wasn't sure what to expect, but now I must read all the other Montana Rescue books!

Susan May Warren dishes out the perfect mix of romance and drama in her newest release. Storm photographer, Brette, and rescuer with regrets, Ty, have history and they are thrown back into each other's lives suddenly when a tornado rips through a small Minnesota town. Brette and Ty find themselves in a frantic search to find some of the missing members of the town and they must reevaluate their past romance in the meantime. They just might find out that it is impossible to separate ones that God has put together, no matter how you try to run and hide.

This book is just a breath of fresh air. It is everything you could want in a good read. I loved the easy connection that is felt with the characters and the way that Susan used inspirational messages throughout the book. This book shows the reader how to trust God through their struggles in life. I really can't say enough good things about this book! You will want to find a comfy spot and a snack and read this in one sitting. I can't wait to read the other books in this series. Thank you so much to Revell for the chance to review this book!

Fierce Marriage by Ryan and Selena Frederick

Ryan and Selena Frederick are the founders of fiercemarriage.com which is an online community that has grown in leaps and bounds since it first started in 2013. In this book, Ryan and Selena share some of the struggles they have dealt with in their own marriage as well as conflicts among the marriages of their fiercemarriage.com readers. Ryan and Selena focus on God-centered marriage which is the only way anyone's marriage can ultimately survive.

It took me awhile to get into reading this book. I think it might be because the book goes back and forth between Ryan and Selena's view. I think the book could be improved if the switching between viewpoints didn't happen during the middle of the chapter and had a more uniform way to show that the author was changing. Also. the authors are very candid so there were some blush-worthy moments in the book that were a bit much for me.

However, there are some definite high points to the book that stuck with me. I appreciated how Ryan and Selena focused on God-centered marriage and they had some good practical advice for couples. Their quote that said, "Christ isn't just at the top of the list; he is the list," is something that really resonated with me. This is so true. I also liked that they mentioned that children can witness the gospel just by watching your marriage. I have never really thought of that in those terms before, but that is a great interpretation.

I applaud Ryan and Selena for taking the time to share their marriage and help other couples improve their relationships. Thank you to BakerBooks for the chance to review this book.

Raising World Changers in a Changing World by Kristen Welch

This book is an eye-opener for sure. It is a book about generosity and one family's journey to not just give a little, but to give their all. Each chapter concludes with a question and answer section with Kristen's children and husband, as well as hands on ideas to help your family become givers.

While I love a lot of the advice given in this book, I also found myself disagreeing with some of the situations in this book. I think this is because I am a "safe" person and parent and I am always trying my best to keep my children safe. I trust God completely, but I also feel like he wants us to be earthly protectors for our children and to not put them into extremely dangerous situations. Some of the instances in this book are a bit extreme. One generosity tip mentioned making your children give up their bed for houseguests. I feel like you have to be very careful not to break your own children while you are in the midst of generosity, because every child is different and could be affected in a negative way. A young child is still growing and developing and their room should be their safe place and their sanctuary and should not have to be given up to a stranger. In this world today, you have to be careful who you invite into your house for your family's safety. While reading this book, I felt like there were many contradictory and judgmental statements. I see nothing wrong with teaching your children to be generous and happy and joyful at the same time. I talk about God, prayer, generosity, kindness, and forgiveness with my son every day. We are not perfect, but we love God and try our best to help others. I appreciate the idea of this book, but I don't feel like some of these extreme examples are the right fit for every family. Thank you to BakerBooks for the chance to review this book! These opinions are honest and are my own.