Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock




Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock can be described in one word. Amazing! Usually I do not end up speechless when describing a book.

As I was introduced and the characters became familiar to me, I felt like I was watching a movie. A sign of a really good read is forgetting you are holding a book in your living room. In this book, I was literally transformed into the town of Serenity. I admired Carny and appreciated her spunkiness. Her story inspired me and I saw her as the "good guy" amongst a sea of naive residents.

I related to the author's weaving the gullible characters and their reasoning against the wisdom and streets smarts that Carny had learned in her childhood. Her son was precious and I admired her faithfulness to giving her son a godly upbringing.

This love story was told in such a way that was not preachy to the reader. I do believe this book  would appeal to a nonbeliever as well. The salvation message was presented in a gentle way. Carny stuck to the Bible in the way she handled each situation. I was allowed many glimpses into her human frailty. The contrast of her hardness combined with her vulnerability to love was a pleasure to behold!

I would do cartwheels if  a sequel to this wonderfully woven story was made. I recommend Shadow in Serenity unreservedly to anyone seeking to escape for awhile while going nowhere but your living room. You will experience serenity in a whole new way!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Shelton Interactive as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed 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.” Are you a manufacturer of a product or currently market a service? Christina will review it! Email christna@wordsofgrace.info with product name, description and manufacturer's suggested retail price along with any other information relative to said product. You will receive a response via email within two weeks if product will be reviewed. Please note not all products will be considered reviewable. Please do not send products without prior consent. Note: Products sent for review will not be returned. Product submission authorizes consent for said product to remain in sole possession of recipient. No monies shall be exchanged for product submission nor permission granted for reviews prior to submission. Reviews shall remain effective and in full force at sole discretion of blog administrator and/or authors related to http://www.christinawillreviewit.blogspot.com.

Abundant Life Day Book: 365 Blessings to Begin Your Day by Nancy Guthrie

Beautiful, Holy-Spirit inspired - a hug each and every day. Abundant Life Day Book asks many questions in each day's devotional. I love questions because the questions allow me to spend introspective time with God.
So many other daily devotionals suffer from wordiness with more preaching and less exhortation. I found the questions thoughtful and refreshing. Each day began with a theme, and then a Scripture verse to support the statement. However, my favorite part was the conversation that followed. The conversation was not written from author Nancy Guthrie. The author has posed the conversation as if it were from God to the reader!!!

How special to pick up a beautiful devotional book such as this and flip open that day's devotional and let God through His Holy Spirit ask questions and share modern day struggles, challenges, ups and downs with me? Having each day written this way allowed me an element of expectation. What will tomorrow's devo contain? (yes, I flipped ahead and I know many readers will read the next day's devo the day ahead because it is that good!) No doubt, each day will take less than five minutes to read. However, the takeaway and the feasting throughout the entire day on what the reader read that morning will be so helpful in fighting the good fight (Ephesians 6)!

Nancy Guthrie has given her reader not only a devotional book but a resource to last many years and beyond. It will be a perpetual reminder that anyone who cracks it open can glean more of God's goodness and learn personally about God's plan for him/her (Jeremiah 29:11.)

This book is abundantly filled with many reminders to live a life pleasing to Him! A wonderful Christmas gift. Perfect to carry in your purse or keep on your nightable. Before you put your feet on the floor in the morning, be reminded of how much God loves you and wants a personal relationship with you. Well done Nancy Guthrie!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed 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.”

Are you a manufacturer of a product or currently market a service? Christina will review it! Email christina@wordsofgrace.info with product name, description and manufacturer's suggested retail price along with any other information relative to said product. You will receive a response via email within two weeks if product will be reviewed. Please note not all products will be considered reviewable. Please do not send products without prior consent. Note: Products sent for review will not be returned. Product submission authorizes consent for said product to remain in sole possession of recipient. No monies shall be exchanged for product submission nor permission granted for reviews prior to submission. Reviews shall remain effective and in full force at sole discretion of blog administrator and/or authors related to http://www.christinawillreviewit.blogspot.com/.