Christian Shelves

I know I have a divergent opinion from the vast majority of readers, so I'm only sharing these thoughts on my blog and nowhere else. I'm pretty bummed that this clean fiction book did not land for me, and was probably the most surprised that The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh was such an opposite experience from what I expected. Book Synopsis She’s out to prove that there’s no such thing as choosing happiness. Isadora Bentley follows the rules. Isadora Bentley likes things just so. Isadora Bentley believes that happiness is something that flat-out doesn’t exist in her life—and never will. As a university researcher, Isadora keeps to herself as much as possible. She avoids the students she’s supposed to befriend and mentor. She stays away from her neighbors and lives her own quiet, organized life in her own quiet, organized apartment. And she will never get involved in a romantic relationship again—especially with another academic. It will be just Isadora and h

That feeling when one of your favourite book series gets more books added to it—what a lovely surprise to hear the announcement about the Home to Heritage series after completing the Restoring Heritage series a while back! An even lovelier surprise has been seeing additional authors join this series, such as with You're the Reason by Susan May Warren with Tari Faris. Book Synopsis She never intended to return to Heritage. When an injury sidelines her, Grace Howell leaves her life as a ballerina and returns to Heritage, Michigan, to heal. Teaching dance is just a temporary gig, until she finds herself unexpectedly charmed by small-town life and her growing attachment to Seth Warner, a man from her past with a troubled history of his own. He’s back in Heritage as a changed man. The last place Seth thought he’d return is Heritage, but a felony record has narrowed his options, compelling him back to a community that hasn’t forgotten his transgressions. Dreams of starting a Ninja Gym

I'm grateful that I was able to listen to Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop, while also following along with the ebook. It provided an enriching experience as I could read through and listen to the Psalms in a way that brought them to life even more. Book Synopsis Lament is how you live between the poles of a hard life and trusting God’s goodness. Lament is how we bring our sorrow to God―but it is a neglected dimension of the Christian life for many Christians today. We need to recover the practice of honest spiritual struggle that gives us permission to vocalize our pain and wrestle with our sorrow. Lament avoids trite answers and quick solutions, progressively moving us toward deeper worship and trust. Exploring how the Bible―through the psalms of lament and the book of Lamentations―gives voice to our pain, this book invites us to grieve, struggle, and tap into the rich reservoir of grace and mercy God offers in the darkest moments of our l

What a fun title to say! The Lost Daughter's Irishman by Carolyn Miller releases on October 11, 2024 and has been a great introduction to this series for me. I am grateful to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis She wants to find a way to live again; he wants to close a deal and move on. Until sparks fly and these opposites attract in this contemporary romance filled with heart and humour. For Kara Browne, hiding out in Eden Cove provides a chance to heal after her life fell apart. Now, without a family or career, she juggles jobs while trying to find her feet again, thankful for this tiny community that has taken her to their heart. When a handsome Irishman appears in Eden Cove with his plans to take over the local luxury hotel where she works, his obvious wealth combined with a series of unfortunate events convince her that they’re worlds apart. Which they soon will be, seeing she’s already booked her ticket t