Friday, July 31, 2015

Book Review of How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird by Amy Lively

I really enjoyed Amy Lively's book, How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird.  In this book, Lively gives practical ways to get to know your neighbors.  She encourages the reader to venture out of his/her comfort zone to form friendships with those people around you.  At the end of each chapter, she has a "Next Best Steps" section that has questions for the reader to answer and sometimes verses to read.

I really think that this is a useful tool for any Christian that wants to learn to love their neighbor, but isn't quite sure how to go about it.  I highly recommend this book!

*I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.*

Book Review of The Love Letters by Beverly Lewis

I found Beverly Lewis' book, The Love Letters, a bit disappointing.  The back of the book says that this is the story of Marlena Wenger.  She goes to Brownston, Pennsylvania to help her Mennonite grandmother after the death of grandfather.  Her life takes an unexpected turn when she learns that she must care for her estranged sister's baby, Angela Rose.  This means that she has to be away from her Old Order Amish beau, Nat.  
The title led me to believe that it would be a book about love letters written between Marlena and her beau, Nat, but that was not the case.  The back of the book only tells part of what this book is about. Marlena does spend time at her grandmother's, and she does take care of her niece.  She is miles away from Nat. There were a few letters exchanged between Marlena and Nat, but the love letters that seem more important were those of another character, Boston.  He has lost his way, and young Jake Bitner befriends him.  Jake's family allows Boston to stay in their barn, and Jake reads the letters that were written to Boston.  This book seemed like two stories in one book, and other than the Bitners assisting Marlena with some things needed for Angel Rose, I didn't feel that there was anything to bridge the gap between the stories.  It wasn't my favorite Beverly Lewis book.

*I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.*

Book Review of A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade

A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade is the third book in her Porter Family series.   This book is about Jake Porter and Lyndie James.  Jake Porter is a former Marine who suffers from PTSD.  Lyndie James is back in Holley, Texas after moving from there to California as a preteen. She and Jake had been best friends until she moved away. Jake hires her to exercise his horses, but he is very cautious around her.  Jake felt the need to watch over Lyndie as a child, and he finds those feelings have not changed.  Lyndie and Jake's friendship begins to grow again, and the walls that Jake has built around his heart begin to break down.  I won't give away too much more!  It is a book about healing and finding your way back to God because He is the ultimate healer. 

I chose to read this book because I really enjoy Becky Wade.  I didn't realize that A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade was part of a series when I chose to review it.  Normally I prefer to read the first book in the series, but I have to say that I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down.  I highly recommend it!

*I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.*