Still House Pond by Jan Watson Book Review

Still House Pond

Still House Pond is about the life of a young girl, Lilly Gray Corbett, her mother, Copper, and their hired girl, Manda. The book preview tells of Lilly being invited to go visit her Aunt Alice in the city. The train crashes on the way and Copper goes to the scene in search of her daughter. This scene does happen in the book but the preview leads you to believe that this is what the book is about and I didn’t find that to be the case. I did enjoy the book but felt a little bit mislead by the preview.

Copper is a busy woman who helps with the births of babies in the community. Lilly is an eleven year old girl that helps take care of the younger children of the family. Lilly’s birth father died when she was younger and her mother is now remarried with other children. Lilly has an aunt in the city that requests that she come to visit and sends the train ticket for her to come. Copper does not want to let her child venture out on her own but realizes that she is growing up and agrees to let her go.
Manda is the hired girl that helps take care of the house chores. Manda is still a young girl that is trying to figure out her place in life and with love. She is just as much as a main character as Lilly. We go with Manda as she learns some valuable life lessons and that the effects of her actions ultimately affect others around her, something that took the endangerment of Lilly for her to learn.

News of the train crashing sets everything into motion. The characters evaluate their actions and learn from their mistakes while trying to find Lilly. The unexpected twist was a nice surprise, only proving more that the things that we choose to do, whether good or bad, have an effect on other lives.

This was the fifth novel by Jan Watson. She did a great job of showing her readers the lives of these women and the consequences of their choices. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it as a good read.

Still House Pond was provided to me by Tyndale Publishers free of charge for review purposes only. The opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced.

Outlive Your Life Book Review

Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make A Difference

I was provided this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way. 

Have you ever just wondered why you are here? Why did God put you on this earth? I am just a normal person and I'm sure that you are. With this book, Max Lucado explains ways that common folk just like us can make a difference in the world. God used common people in the bible and he is still the same God, therefore he still uses common people now. God changes the world with people like us.

This book is a great read and really made me think about what I am doing to make a difference in others lives. What can I do to make someone's day a little brighter, to let them know that someone cares for them. I especially liked the end of the book that was for discussion and action guide. Max provides us ways to take action to help make a difference. This book would be great as a gift or one to keep in your personal library, it's definitely going to be in mine.

The Boy Who Changed the World Book Review

Have you heard of the Butterfly Effect? Everytime that a butterfly flaps its wings, it moves tiny pieces of air, causing something else to happen such as the wind blowing on the other side of the world. Its amazing how one little decision can affect others for years to come.

I was recently given the opportunity to review the book The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews. This book is for children and is based on the popular book The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews. This book was provided to me free of charge for review purposes from Thomas Nelson Publishers. All opinions are my own.

This is an amazing story of how the actions of one little boy can affect the lives of others for years to come. The author spreads the word to children with the saying, "Every choice you make, good or bad, can make a difference." This book takes you through the lives of four boys that eventually all have a common connection and make a difference in the world. The decisions that you make today can truly change the world. My children have loved hearing me read this book to them. The illustations by Philip Hurst are so beautiful and lifelike, giving the book more meaning. I have enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it for all parents to share with their little ones.

Book Review: The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven

The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven: A Remarkable Account of Miracles, Angels, and Life beyond This World

This is a true story about Alex Malarkey whom was in a terrible car accident with his father in 2004. Alex was in a coma for two months after the wreck and is now paralyzed. This story tells of the wonderful journey Alex took while in the coma and also of struggles the family had while trying to remain true to their faith. Through the prayers and diligent work of many people, the family has made it through this terrible tragedy and is able to share Alex’s story. I have been touched by the Malarkey’s strength and that they are remaining strong until Alex is fully healed. They have obstacles in their way at times and put their marriage last, but you can tell that this is a couple determined to stick together through anything.
Alex tells of going to Heaven, seeing angels and demons, meeting with Jesus and of talking with Jesus. I did expect there to be more details than what were given in the book as far as the wonders of Heaven, and of the angels and demons. Alex does tell some things about Heaven but has been told by God that he can only reveal certain details. We all are going to have to wait to see the true beauty that Heaven holds for us on our own unfortunately. I truly believe that this little boy was watched over by angels and will be fully healed as his parents believe. He has already beaten the odds just by surviving.

Although I didn’t get the details of Heaven like I thought that I would, this book is a great read. It’s very inspiring the way that the Malarkey family has trusted God throughout this entire journey. Alex is a true miracle, a work only that could be done by God. Bless this family and thank you for sharing Alex’s wonderful, tragic journey with others.

This book was provided to me free of charge from Tyndale House Publishers for my own personal review. All of the opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Prophecy Answer Book

The Prophecy Answer Book
With so many prophesies in the Bible, one can get confused and have many questions. David Jeremiah answers those prophesies that are now relevant with the world. The role of Israel is explained. Even oil is playing a part in the fulfillment of these prophesies. This was a very simple, easy book to read and understand with the question and answer format. Jeremiah breaks down everything into plain English so that anyone can get the answers they are seeking. With answers to what events are to take place before Christ’s Second Coming and what is the Rapture and the Tribulation, I was easily intrigued and anxious to read this book. Even a Christian as me has many questions regarding the end of time. Questions about the antichrist and the mark of the beast are also answered. Jeremiah provides scripture that you can reference for each of his answers, this is nice because I like to cross reference with the Bible, God’s true word, before I take the answers from someone else. I highly recommend this book to have as a quick reference for answers regarding prophesies in the Bible.


The Prophecy Answer Book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishing free of charge for my own personal review. All opinions stated are my own.

Book Review-Resurrection in May

Resurrection in May, by Lisa Samson, is truly a remarkable book. The writer takes you on a journey of how your life can be changed right before your very eyes in a moments notice. The book focuses on the simple things in life that can get us through tragedy. Losing faith and finding it once again can be difficult but Lisa Samsom made this journey one that I am honored to have read about.

May Seymour is a spoiled young woman who has just graduated college and has no real plans for her future. We follow her as she goes on a mission trip to Rwanda and experiences the horror and tragedy of witnessing everyone she knows be murdered there. She would never be the same again as you can very well imagine. We journey with her as she must struggle to find the meaning in her life and the will to survive again as she goes back home to live on the farm of a recently new found friend, an old man named Claudius Bourne, who has never married and has very rarely left his farm other than to go to church and sell his crops.

May has an old college flame, Eli, that just happens to be kin to Claudius. Years change the life of Eli in many ways also. He nor May will ever be the young, carefree teenagers that they once were. We even get visit death row in an unexpected way that I would not have imagined.

As I read through the novel, my heart ached for May as she struggled with regaining her life. She had lost all faith by what she had witnessed and lived through. It was a very hard process for her to try to regain her faith and trust in God again. 


This book is a page turner that you will not want to put down for too long, it is very inspiring and a must read! This is the first book by Lisa Samson that I have read. She has many others that I cannot wait to read. Very touching book! Highly Recommended!

This book was sent to me for review, free of charge, compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers. The thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

Free Book: The Glory of Heaven

Grace to You is offering a free book: The Glory of Heaven (Soft Cover) to anyone who requests this offer.

From the Site:

It could be next year. Next month. Perhaps tomorrow. Sooner or later, you'll endure a day so dark, you won't be able to see past it.

Just then, your heart longs for home. A secure place. An eternal place. A place that knows nothing of sin and its effects. A place to live in the very presence of God, untouched by sorrow, pain, loneliness, or fear. You're longing for heaven.

This volume critically examines modern claims and misconceptions about heaven, and in response, displays an accurate, biblically defensible portrait of life in eternity—our glorious future home.