Freedom’s Stand

By J.M. Windle

Genre: Fiction

My rating: 4 1/2 stars

Summary: “Jamil renounced a life of jihad when he encountered the life-changing message of Jesus Christ, but villagers and authorities in the hills of Afghanistan respond with skepticism . . . and even violence.
Relief worker Amy Mallory is shocked by the changes in her organization—changes with dire implications for the women and children under her care. And concern for her former assistant, Jamil, weighs heavily on her heart.
Former Special Forces veteran Steve Wilson faces off against the riots and corruption of Kabul’s upcoming election. He's looking for something that will give his life purpose but is confident that he won’t find it in Afghanistan.
All three are searching for love and freedom in a country where political and religious injustice runs rampant. But when religious freedom becomes a matter of life and death, they discover that the cost of following Jesus may require the ultimate sacrifice.”

Oh my goodness.  If you’ve read/watched The Kite Runner and enjoyed it, then you must check out this book.  It’s heartbreaking in that you can’t help but know that people in other corners of the world are feeling the way many of these characters do.  And Windle does not leave out gritty details about what life can be like in Afghanistan, particularly for women and children.  But it’s full of hope and beauty and redemption. 

It took me a while to get into this book, I must admit.  But once I did, I was riveted.  I didn’t know that there is a book that occurs before this one (Veiled Freedom) which could quite possibly be why it took me a while to get into the story.  I definitely plan on checking out Veiled Freedom at some point, and based on reviews, it’s raved about as much as Freedom’s Stand.

I learned so much about Afghani culture and religion and I truly enjoyed this reading experience.

*Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*

The Day We Met + Author Interview

 The Day We Met

By Dusti Bowling

Genre: YA fiction

Rating: 5 cupcakes

Summary:  "Sixteen-year-old Lenna James goes to church, attends youth group, and hangs out with the “church geeks” at school. At least, she did. Enticed by a chance with the boy she’s had a crush on for years, Lenna abandons her values and her lifelong friends to hang out with the popular crowd. What she gets in return couldn’t be further from her expectations. 

Feeling used and alone and facing an unexpected pregnancy, Lenna struggles to regain control of her life, her parents’ trust, and the love of her best friend, Will. But when her pregnancy takes an unexpected turn, taking away what little control she thought she had, she must find the strength to make the most heart-wrenching decision of all. She feels lost no matter what she chooses. Will she finally choose to look up?"

Wow. Seriously, wow. I must admit it is so refreshing to see an author tackle a story with such respect for how a teenager might deal with deep issues such as teen pregnancy and with a Christian flare. I immediately could connect to Lenna's character and flew through the pages to see what would happen to her next. I wish I could go on and on about how awesome this book is, how thought-provoking, how heartfelt, but I'm afraid I'll give something away. So please, do yourself a favor and read this book that is as beautiful and stunning as the cover.

Currently it's available for the Kindle for $.99. I think it's worth every penny and more. :)

*          *          *

And now, for the interview with Dusti Bowling....


What was your inspiration for The Day We Met?

I was inspired by a friend who had a similar experience. Her story really moved me and I never could stop thinking about it. A couple of years later God put it on my heart to write this book. 

What age range is The Day We Met intended for?

It is intended for young adults, ages thirteen and up, but I have gotten a tremendous response from women as well.  

Any other writing projects in the works?

Yes, I have another Christian fiction YA novel I hope to release sometime in the next year. I also plan on releasing a couple of chapter books for younger readers before too long. 

Which author (dead or alive) would you most like to talk to and why?

This may seem like an odd choice, but I would probably choose Stephen King. With the exception of some of his older horror novels, I've read pretty much everything he's written. I love how he's created his own universe and ties most of his novels together in some way. I think he has the greatest imagination of any writer I've ever read and I think he would be incredibly interesting to talk to. 

Favorite movie?

It's a tie: The Shawshank Redemption (I don't think most people realize this was written by Stephen King) and Pride and Prejudice.

Favorite ice cream flavor?

Banana

Where can readers find out more about you and your book?

My website, www.dustibowling.com, is currently under construction but should be up and running very soon.

Well, Dusti, thanks for the interview! I also adore Shawshank Redemption, and anyone who loves banana ice cream has got to be awesome-sauce. :)

Kisses from Katie

A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption
By Katie Davis

Genre: Non-fiction, memoir

My rating: 5 cupcakes!

Check out this video to see what this fabulous book is all about!

What an absolutely phenomenal and inspirational book!  My eyes and heart were opened in a new way to the poverty in Uganda and how just a little bit of love and food can make all the difference in the world in the lives of their youngest.

I had heard her story before and was inspired, but reading it, her heart, her voice, her faith, it was so beautiful I couldn't put it down.  I have a tendency to highlight lines I really like, and I'm so glad I didn't even start, or I probably would have more highlighted then non-highlighted lines.  This is a book I'd gladly reread, and I don't find many of those.

Katie's story touched my heart so profoundly I'm determined to live every day living out God's will for my life, as Katie is.  You can see the joy in her life as she follows God's will and I want that in my own life.  What would the world be like if every person lived out their life like Katie Davis does?

I honestly can't say enough about how awesome this book, so do yourself a life-changing favor and go check it out for yourself!  The hardcover usually sells for $24 on Amazon, and currently is on sale for $14.29 so get it now!  And check out her blog here.

Hope for the Weary Mom

Hope for the Weary Mom: Where God Meets You in the Middle of Your Mess

By Stacey Thacker and Brooke McGlothlin

Genre: Christian living

My rating: 4 cupcakes

I have a confession to make....I've been a weary mom.  Lately I've been known to run the dryer for another half hour just so I don't have to fold the laundry.  Or to plop the kiddo in front of the TV so I can finally tackle the dishes that somehow exploded out of my sink and across my counters, without my son trying to close the dishwasher and pull the cups out of it like he loves to do.  But the only reason that mountain of dishes is there in the first place is because I haven't unloaded the dishwasher in like, two days.  Oh, and I have mentioned we've been eating out a lot more lately?  Could that be because I've become too lazy to cook most days of the week now?

So, there you go.  I'm weary and that makes me lazy.  But this ebook was a breath of fresh air for me.  It made me realize I'm not alone. There are lots of other weary (and possibly lazy) moms out there.  This is an ebook available through Amazon for only $.99 (at least as of now).  If you don't have a Kindle, you can download it as a pdf.  It's not very long, in fact, you could probably read it all in one sitting.  It's composed of a few short devotions that have one overarching theme: mothering is an incredible thing,  but it's not meant to be done in your own strength, but with His help.

This book wasn't life-transforming or anything like that, but it definitely was worth every one of those 99 pennies I spent.  I wish it was available in print format, because I think it'd make a wonderful gift, but I did enjoy it.

Any other weary moms out there?  

Anyone brave enough to share a weary mom confession?  I know I'm not the only one.  ;)