A Most Delightful Holiday Read! {An Endless Christmas}

I have officially added a name to my favorite author list:  Cynthia Ruchti. I didn't expect it to occur by reading a 'novella'. An Endless Christmas is the second work of Ruchti's I have read; the first, Tattered and Mended, is the absolute opposite of wistful, Christian fiction (for that book review, click here). Ruchti clearly excels at both fiction & nonfiction, and provides light-hearted reads as well as soul-searching, dig-in-deep nonfiction. One word sums up both and will keep me as part of Ruchti's audience for a very long time: therapy.

An Endless Christmas is therapy for the mind & heart. It's the equivalent of sitting by a fire, sipping hot chocolate, and having your entire schedule completely open and quiet for three hours. This sweet little work of fiction draws you in and desires your attention. So, if you have the book, hot chocolate, a fire and three hours, I know you will have the most perfect afternoon!

The novella's main storyline hits immediately and leaves the reader saying, "Oh wow". Katie has gone to Minnesota with her boyfriend Micah and says no to his wedding proposal. A wedding proposal done in front of his large extended family. A proposal done the moment they walked in the door. At Christmas time. In a small house that Katie will be sharing with the Binder family for an entire week. If I expected a sleepy beginning, those thoughts disappeared the moment I read the first sentence of the novel--what a hook!

It's interesting the way Ruchti weaves the main storyline (the rejected proposal and the relationship of Katie and Micah) with other storylines and characters within the book. From grandparents Wilson & Dodie Binder, to Micah's parents, to hilarious aunts and uncles, to young cousins, Katie begins to see the many layers of this seemingly happy-go-lucky clan. Katie is convinced she is not worthy of Micah or his perfect family, but as Ruchti adds depth to the other characters, both the reader and Katie get a better sense of what it means to live a life of joy even in the midst (or even as a result of) tough times.

I'll be honest--I hate to give too many details within a book review, because why would a potential reader want to grab a copy and dive in when the review has told the whole story? So here is my final insight--I read An Endless Christmas as I traveled to my parents house for Thanksgiving. Shy of having to turn around and pass out snacks to my kids, answer their questions of how much longer to grandma's, and a couple other 'mom' duties, the book had my full attention. I consumed it in one sitting, loved the entire thing, and am certain additional readers will enjoy it and desire more tales of Katie and the Binder family, too.

*I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review*

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An Endless Christmas (Worthy Inspired, October 2015)

Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster.

Christmas takes a very different turn when the guests of honor break up instead of announcing their engagement. Trapped with his family, they learn that love looks different than either imagined. Both in their eighties, Dodie and Wilson Binder celebrate every Christmas as if it were their last. This year, their grandson Micah is planning to ask his girlfriend, Katie, to marry him so they can celebrate with the whole family. But things go very wrong when she says, “no.” Now they are stuck. Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster. But sometimes too much is just enough. Especially when it’s Christmas.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Drawing from 33 years of on-air radio ministry, Cynthia Ruchti tells stories of hope-that-glows-in-the-dark

through her novels and novellas, nonfiction books and devotionals, and speaking for women's and writers' events. Her books have been recognized by Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards, Selah Awards, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Christian Retailing's BEST Awards, and Carol Award nominations, among other honors, including a Family Fiction Readers' Choice Award. She and her plot-tweaking husband live in Pittsville, Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren.

copyright 2015 LeAnne Klopfenstein

Another Way Home {Third in a Series by Deborah Raney}

I did something unintentional when I received my copy of Another Way Home by Deborah Raney--I gave it to my friend Tiffany to read before I read it. Tiffany is a very fast reader, returns books promptly, and has needed something to do a night before going to sleep. She and I had both read the first two books in The Chicory Inn series, so we've both been looking forward to the release of this third book! What I had forgotten about--until Tiffany reminded me when she returned it--was that Another Way Home focuses on Whitman daughter Danae and her struggles with infertility. The reader witnesses Danae's frustration over not getting pregnant while continuing to pay for fertility treatments, the stress it puts on her marriage with Dallas, and the tension it creates among the Whitman family clan when they don't know how to ask Danae if she's gotten pregnant yet. The family then walk on eggshells when her oldest sister, Corinne, discovers she is pregnant with her fourth child.

My friend Tiffany experienced 10 years of infertility. She and her husband have longed for a baby of their own, be it naturally, through foster care, or through private adoption. They've continually desired to wait and rest in God's plan and timing, even though things haven't always been easy in the waiting. Tiffany is an amazing aunt, a wonderful friend to her friends' children, and she was a fabulous foster mom. But, I know within those times there has been a deep longing to be a mom herself. As much as I enjoyed reading Another Way Home, Tiffany expressing that it was a very relatable novel and captured the emotions accurately was a huge endorsement for me! And just like God leading Danae down a path to His plan and His timing, God has done the same in sweet Tiffany's life--she gives birth to her first child TOMORROW!!!! I'm so excited, and I'm glad she and I have been reading The Chicory Inn series together.

Another Way Home is my favorite novel in the series! When I read the first two novels, I felt you could read Two Roads Home (the second book) without having read the very first book, Home to Chicory Lane. While Another Way Home does indeed stand on its own, I do not recommend reading it without reading the other two novels, because the reader will miss out on the rich background stories of the Whitman family that is revealed in books 1 and 2.

The emotions shared regarding Danae's infertility are extremely realistic, as are her husband Dallas' lack of interest in adopting, the stress put upon a couple who is struggling to have a baby, and the way that family approaches conversations with the couple. Most amazing in the book though, is how Danae puts her hope in Christ--not totally in that He will give her a child, but in the actions she takes as she moves her focus off of herself, looks outward, and begins to help battered women. Danae matures in her faith, matures in serving others, and draws closer to Dallas. As the novel progresses, God brings His plan for Danae and Dallas together in an incredible way that does not disappoint.

*I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review*

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About the book: 
Another Way Home (Abingdon Press, October 2015)

Sometimes God's ways are not at all what we expect . . . and exactly what we need.

Grant and Audrey are adding grandchildren to their family left and right, but middle daughter, Danae, and her husband, Dallas Brooks, have been trying for years with no baby in sight.

Though Danae is ready to consider adoption, Dallas will not even discuss it. Despairing of ever having a family of her own, Danae decides to pour her passion and energies into volunteer work with a newly opened women's shelter in town. Looking for a good cause to fill her lonely days, she never expects to give her heart to the hurting women she meets there. She's finally learning to live her life with gratitude, but then heart-wrenching events on Thanksgiving weekend threaten to pull the entire Whitman clan into turmoil-and leave them all forever changed.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1NQhjf8

 About the author: 

Deborah Raney's books have won numerous awards, including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas-the setting of many of Deborah's novels---for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita, where they enjoy gardening, antiquing, movies, and traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away.

Find Deborah online: website, Twitter, Facebook

Get Your Story Straight {A Devotional for Teens}

Get Your Story Straight by Kristen Hatton is a 52 week devotional for teens that is designed to help walk them through the entire Bible. It provides opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Word and also grasp the importance of Christ. The stories provided along with the devotion are very relevant to teen readers. And, the breakdown of the study questions causes teens to stop, read the passage again, and see how it applies to their lives. My freshman in high school is going through Get Your Story Straight. Overall, she enjoys it, but she has said that sometimes the questions are 'hard'. While she is going through this book alone, I think she would benefit from having a friend or her small group reading it, too. I do not recommend this book to preteens or teens not yet in high school, just based on my personal thoughts about some of the relevant topics. But, those subjects (often found in "The Word Applied" section) are good for high school teens to stop and think about and then connect it back to the Bible lesson for the week. And Day Three("Straight to my Heart') is great for teens to stop, reread the passage, and then answer questions. I really do appreciate how the 52 week study is separated into five days of lessons to do weekly. The layout gets the teen into a good rhythm of reading the Word, applying the Word to her life, answering questions that have her look at how it affects her heart, going back and reading the Word again, and ending on Day 5 with Journaling and Prayer. The focus on our teen's story intertwining with Christ's story is definitely what I desire for her to truly grasp, and Get Your Story Straight is a good start & resource as she grows her own faith. **I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About the book:  Get Your Story Straight (New Growth Press, October 2015) What's your story? We all tell stories to each other---stories about what happened when we were kids, stories about last night, and stories where we dream about the future. Some stories are funny, some are amazing, others are sad, but they all have something in common---each of us is the hero of our own story. Our thoughts, feelings, hopes, and dreams take center stage. But when it's all about you, it's also all up to you. You have to make life work, find meaning, and hope for the best even when you mess up or things go badly wrong. But what if we were made for something different? What if the main character in our life story isn't us, but it is the God who became like us and is now with us? What if being fully human means knowing him and growing to be like him? What if the way to be fully alive is to be caught up in Jesus's story? This 52-week devotional book and small group resource is designed to help you live with Jesus in his gospel story---the good news that your sins are forgiven, your future is assured, and following him is the only meaningful way to live. No matter your age, where you live, who your family is, or what your past, God wants you to experience the freedom that comes in being secure in his love. Divided into three parts, starting with creation, each section progressively explores the idea that the whole Bible is the unfolding story of Jesus. Through this grid, who Jesus is and why we need him will shape your understanding of freedom and grace and how you grow to be like him. This yearlong study for teenagers and young adults is designed for individual devotional times, but a small group discussion guided by a mentor would help participants to absorb and live out the truths of each week's teaching. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1i9Ccq4 About the author:  Kristen Hatton is a native Texan now putting roots down in Edmond, OK with her church-planter/pastor husband and their three children. With a public relations background from Southern Methodist University, Kristen has a wide array of professional experiences, none of which she counts as important as the job of being a "present" mom. Through leading a small group Bible study of teenagers, she has discovered her passion for teaching and writing about God's grace. Find Kristen online: website, Twitter, Facebook

The Ology {A Book Review}

The Ology by Marty Machowski is a storybook designed to share Biblical Theology with children in a clear way. The book is in no way 'babyish", but it is written perfectly for 1st-6th graders. Jr. High, Senior High, and even adult-aged readers can gain quite a bit of knowledge and insight from TheOlogy. Younger grade schoolers will benefit from an adult reading to them, while an older grade school student will enjoy learning and reading on his or her own. My younger children (ages 1 & 3) are enjoying it too, but I'm teaching them more based on the pictures provided with each truth. "Think Theology, Talk Theology" is a section located at the end of the book and lists discussion questions for each segment (an answer key is included, too). All in all, the book is over 250 pages and will be a great family resource for many years.

Kolbie running her hand across the picture for "Breaking One Law Breaks the Whole Law"

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely!

• It is Biblically sound. Before I even looked at the book, I gave it to my husband to view. He is an Adult Ministries Pastor and has a Bible degree with a Theology minor from Moody Bible Institute. I wanted his insight and perspective. My husband was very pleased with the people who endorse The Ology on the first page within the book. While their names didn't mean much to me, Mike said they are very well respected and wouldn't endorse anything that strayed from the truth of God's Word. Mike also looked through the book, enjoyed it, and is considering adding it to our church's bookstore.
• It is beautiful. I have always loved 'coffee table' books. I enjoy reading them, running my hand across the words and pictures, and turning the thick pages. The Ology holds the same quality; nice hardback book, the illustrations are wonderful, the layout is terrific, and it holds a timeless element not just with its content but also within its presentation. 

Want to purchase The Ology? You can find it here:

• Amazon
• Christianbook.com
• Barnes and Noble

**I received a complimentary copy per my honest review.**

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About the book: 
The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New (New Growth Press, October 2015) 

A page-turning storybook of theology for kids 

In the cellar of the old stone cathedral, Carla and Timothy uncover a life-changing treasure, a carefully wrapped ancient book known as The Ology. What adults might describe as a beautifully illustrated storybook of systematic theology, the kids discover to be a story of adventure, mystery, and wonder that leads them to the truth about God, themselves, and the world around them.

Truth is for kids, not just for adults! So The Ology gives kids of all ages a beginner's theology book to help them understand who God is and how we, as his children, relate to him. Arranged within a traditional systematic theological framework, each truth in The Ology is also connected to the larger redemptive story of Scripture. The doctrine of God, for example, is presented in the larger framework of creation, where the attributes of God are more clearly on display. The Ology takes abstract theological concepts and makes them easier to understand with the use of creative examples, illustrations, and analogies. The goal is not to say everything that could be said about a theological topic, but rather to share the key thoughts behind a theological concept. The Ology is a starting point to learning theology and aims to create a hunger and desire in children to learn more as they grow older.

Designed for six-year-olds through preteens, this flexible resource includes built-in adaptations for use with younger or older children, so that entire families can enjoy it together. Read The Ology to preschoolers, read it with grade-school kids, and let older kids discover the "hidden" truths by reading the corresponding Scripture passages for each section. However you read it, The Ology will give your children a gift that will last a lifetime---a solid foundation of life-changing biblical truth that will point them to the God who loves them and gave himself for them.

A companion The Ology CD from Bob Kauflin and Sovereign Music will also be available.

About the author: 

Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for over twenty years. He is the author of the Gospel Story for Kids series, which includes The Gospel Story Bible, Long Story Short, Old Story New, and the Gospel Story Curriculum, as well as the Advent devotional and curriculum Prepare Him Room. He and his wife, Lois, and their six children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Miracle Drug by Richard Mabry, M.D. {Excellent Murder Mystery & Political Thriller}

If you enjoy murder mysteries and political thrillers, Miracle Drug is a great choice! I've always enjoyed this genre, but as I've gotten older I'm appreciating more books where language and sexual content don't overwhelm the novel--part of my reasoning is I want to read things I can then recommend  and share with my teenage son & daughter. Miracle Drug fits my desires for my reading, as well as being able to give it to my kids to read.

The novel begins immediately with a murder, followed by suspense and the reader's desire to know more. I appreciate the medical details and depth within the novel, but I especially enjoyed how I was left guessing for the entire novel as to who were the "good guys" and the "bad guys" as a former President of the United States' life is in jeopardy. It's clear that Dr. Josh Pearson is the main protagonist, but the majority of the characters remain in a 'gray area' throughout the novel--and those unknowns make it hard to stop reading! I enjoyed this novel, and I now plan to read more of Richard Mabry's works.

*I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.*

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Miracle Drug (Abingdon, September 2015)

Overcoming these odds will take more than a miracle drug—it will take a miracle.

The infection wasn’t supposed to happen, but it did. The treatment was supposed to take care of it, but it didn’t. Then Dr. Josh Pearson discovers why—his patients, including the former President of the United States, have been dosed with a different strain of the original virus, one that is universally fatal. The only chance for survival is treatment with an experimental drug, but the manufacturer might already have discarded its supply.

As if treating the President of the United States isn’t stressful enough, the situation goes from bad to worse when Rachel Moore, a nurse Josh is falling in love with, falls ill. With the nation’s eyes on him, Josh must pull off a miracle to save a man who holds a good deal of power and the woman who holds his heart.

Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician who writes “medical suspense with heart.” His novels have won multiple awards: a semifinalist for International Thriller Writers’ debut novel; finalists for the Carol Award, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and Romantic Times’ Reader’s Choice Award; and both finalist and winner of the Selah Award. "Miracle Drug" is his ninth published novel. He and his wife live in Frisco, Texas.

'Halo Found Hope. ~A Memoir' by Helo Matzelle {Book Review}

Helo Matzelle has never written a book prior to Halo Found Hope, nor had she grown up having aspirations to become a writer. Those two things make her book all the more real. More authentic. It's a diary from the heart that shares her process of learning she had a brain tumor, the surgery required to remove the tumor, the long hospital stay that followed, and the rehabilitation journey to her 'new normal.' Helo was not alone in her journey--the sweet relationships she has with her husband, children, brother, parents, and doctors is ever-apparent within her writings. But above all other relationships, in the times she is struggling, scared and frustrated, HOPE is present. Helo's personal relationship with Christ and the way she relies on a trusts Him through everything is at the heart of her narrative. My desire is that others will read this book and gain a deeper understanding of the beauty that occurs within us when we allow God to be part of our everything.

I loved the insight found within Halo Found Hope. A few years ago, I left the job that will always hold a dear place in my heart. I LOVED my job, my coworkers, and all the craziness the job entailed. My title? Patient Care Liaison. And I worked on the Neurological Intermediate floor OSF St. Francis, and the floor is part of the Illinois Neurological Institute. My training took place on the Intensive Care and General floors as they prepared to open the new Intermediate floor. I answered phones, prepped charts, talked to and comforted families, watched patients' vital signs via monitors at my desk, and grabbed the crash cart if a Code Blue were to occur. Some patients would be admitted and discharged very quickly. Others would find themselves staying much longer than was ever anticipated. Some days swung back & forth between thinking a patient wasn't going to make it through the night, to them opening their eyes and communicating a few days later. What Helo describes in her book, both from her own personal awareness and experience, to relaying things her family and medical staff shared with her provide a very clear, accurate picture of her hospital stay and the difficult process of physical therapy and rehab.

To my neuro friends: thank you for all you do. From neurosurgeons to surgical nurses, to the nurses, techs, liaisons and other staff on the floors, you are incredible. The brain is amazing, and the task of removing a tumor and then helping patients and families recover from that is not an easy road. May Helo's book help you realize how much you are appreciated. 

Helo also is blessed with an amazing family, and her gratitude for getting to spend more time with them has caused me to assess my life and realize I can't take special relationships for granted! I've lost family members due to brain tumors, have watched just within the past couple years as a friend has had a tumor removed not once but twice, and I continue to watch a family walk the road of their young son having an inoperable brain tumor. Even now, my sister-in-law's sister is in the initial stages of recovering from brain tumor surgery and is beginning her treatments. I know Helo's book will resonate with many specifically because of brain tumors, and it may hit those readers in ways that bring sobs. But all struggles are real, authentic "felt-needs". Regardless of the family support system in place or the type of struggle, Helo does a wonderful job of writing in a way that will touch any reader.

Lord, I pray you can use this book of Helo's to help others find or renew their hope in you. No one can take your place, and I can't imagine the helplessness that comes from going through the toughest times in our lives without you. Thank you for being present in my life, and may I begin to share of you  more & more!

• Helo has a wonderful website! Halofoundhope.com
• Here is the Amazon Link to Halo Found Hope. A portion of author proceeds will go to the National Brain Tumor Society. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit in exchange for my honest review.

{More than simply a} Book Review for 'Just Show Up'

Every so often, you read a biographical work that completely draws you in because you can picture you and the author being friends. Whether it's your personalities, shared life experiences, similar beliefs, or even your approach to life, you are drawn in by the comfort of a kindred spirit.

The epitome of an author with whom I'm certain I could share a friendship is Jen Hatmaker.

But now, through the process of reading Just Show Up, I feel that same connection and desire with its authors Kara Tippetts and Jill Lynn Buteyn. Kara is no longer here on earth; this book was her final writing as she faced the end stages of her terminal cancer diagnosis. But her personality and brightness come through in such a sweet, sweet way that the tears you wipe from your eyes while reading Just Show Up is due to your heart saying, "Goodness, she was a wonderful friend." As for Jill? Well, her honesty about her more reserved nature, her hesitations of when should she pour into someone else, and the times in which she second guesses how she could best walk alongside Kara resonated with me and my personality on nearly every single page. When Jill states that taking meals to others is a weak area for her (insert my word, which is 'stressful'), I truly said aloud, "THANK YOU!" because I have always felt weak and incompetent through the fact that--for me--taking meals is not my natural area for showing up for others (I have a hard time coming up with and planning ahead for meals for my own family). There's just something about ladies vulnerably sharing their own weaknesses that can help you no longer feel like an island; it's a very comforting and rewarding connection.

The book in and of itself is not a listed "how to walk alongside someone who is suffering". Rather, it reveals the shared experiences of two friends who had to learn to allow others to show up for them and also how to best show up for others. Great insight is found through their examples that make you stop and ponder:

• Where is my place in the circle for showing up for a person going through a difficult time? (We are NOT always called to be the inner circle! And many times, we are called to be the person who is available to the close friends and family who are supporting the person going through the main struggle.)
• Could the words I desire to say come across as empty or even hurtful? (Often, it's just our mere presence that will bring comfort to the person who is hurting.)
• Is God challenging me to step forward and help meet someone's needs? Am I seeking Him as I desire to care for those around me?
• Do I need to give others permission to show up and fill needs within my own life and circumstances?

Beyond the relationship Kara & Jill share, the book reminded me of the various ways I do show up for others (even when I feel like a 'meal-taker' failure). I love to make my friend Mari laugh. Mari, who is going to nursing school full-time, raising 6 kids, and had her house burn down last year. Our lives and our crazy schedules that come from each of us raising 6 kids doesn't allow us many coffee shop moments. But a sideways glance at church, or a comment I know will make both she & I chuckle, or a quip I text her when I know she's at school studying is my way of letting her know I'm thinking about her. My friend Tiffany, who is in the 3rd trimester of her pregnancy and has a demanding full-time job, loves reading Christian fiction at night to help her unwind--when I realized how much she enjoyed me loaning her one book, I began making it more of a priority to loan her anything I own that I think she'd like to read. It's such a small, insignificant act on my end, but it allows her to relax and sleep better at night. I love that we can show up for friends in unique ways!

Full confession: When I received Just Show Up from David C Cook publishing with the sole purpose to read and review it via Litfuse Publicity Group, I was excited yet slightly nervous. I had contacted my friend Sue, who is first and foremost a decades-long friend of my mom's, because I was fairly certain she and Kara had been friends. Sue's response, "Yes! And Jill is a friend of mine, too!",  added a little more pressure to my desire to write a detailed and honest review. At that moment I sincerely prayed, "Dear God, let me like this book." 

Thankfully & truthfully, I did enjoy Just Show Up. It is a wonderful testimony and challenge of what friendship should look like. It was a precious book for me to personally read, too, as I began my marriage in Colorado Springs and could picture many areas described in the book. And maybe someday, when I return to visit our family who still lives in Colorado Springs, I'll have the chance to attend one of Jill's book signings and tell her, "thanks for hitting 'publish'".