Girls’ Club by Sarah, Sally & Joy Clarkson: A Book Review

Discover the gift of friendship!
In a time when many women feel lonely and isolated, Girls’ Club calls us to embrace the delight and comfort that can be found in life-giving friendships with women— and to cultivate relationships that not only offer emotional affirmation and acceptance, but also inspire, educate, and stretch us to live out our God-given potential.

Told through stories and encouragement based on the authors’ experiences—Sally, a seasoned mother and well beloved author; her daughter Sarah, an Oxford scholar and new mother; and her youngest daughter Joy, a professional young woman pursuing her doctorate—Girls’ Club will speak to the importance of cultivating deep and lasting friendship at every stage in life. Join Sally, Sarah, and Joy as they explore the power, difficulties, potential, beauty, and satisfaction of friendships that help us live purposeful, Godly lives and that satisfy our longing for meaningful and intimate companionship.

My Review: Friendship holds such a dear place in my heart. I’m so thankful anytime I read a book that celebrates friendship.

Girls’ Club, written by a mother and her two daughters, is a book that celebrates friendship. Heartfelt, beautifully written and encouraging, this book gives inspiration to any women who desires to deepen the friendships in her life, as well as her relationship with God.

The authors share inspiring examples of what it means to cultivate and celebrate friendship. I was really touched by the way they view their relationship with each other. They are not only family, but they cherish each other as friends.

This book offers not only examples, but also encouragement and wisdom. It reminds us that we need to be intentional in our relationships. If we desire to have true, genuine friendship, we need to be true and genuine. As women and friends, we need to support, encourage and invite women into our lives.

It’s not an easy thing to find lasting friendship. This book offers so much encouragement and inspiration. I think every woman should read it.

In exchange for my honest review, Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Becoming Gertrude by Janice Peterson: A Book Review

Becoming Gertrude is one woman’s wisdom on the beauty of spiritual friendship and God’s unfolding grace over the course of a life lived for Him. Jan uses the term spiritual friendshipto capture this idea of journeying with others through life, sharing experiences and wisdom and seeking God together. In Becoming Gertrude, Jan wants to be your spiritual friend, sharing what she’s learned and painting a picture of what you might uncover as you seek to develop these kinds of relationships in your own life.

Join Jan in exploring the critical pieces of spiritual friendship: hospitality, encouragement, acceptance, serving, and caring. With seasoned wisdom and winsome stories, Jan uses personal experiences to walk you through what each of these things can mean in your life. You can have rich, rewarding, faith-filled friendships that emerge from the everyday rhythms of your days—and Becoming Gertrude will lead you on that journey.

My Review: I really appreciate this book. Friendship is a subject I find that is so often neglected, but it’s such a vital part of our lives. I love how the author shares experiences from her life, and examples of friendship in action.

Caring, accepting, serving, offering hospitality and encouraging. These are the elements that should be in action in our friendships. We need to be intentional in these things. I also love the idea of spiritual friendship that is presented in this book. I haven’t looked at things from that perspective as much as I should, and in the future I intend to be on the lookout for friendships that can become spiritual friendships.

I love the simplicity of this book. It’s short and sweet, but packed with so much truth. I’m thankful for an author that gently reminds us of how truly valuable friendship is.

*In exchange for my honest review, Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Beloved 365 Devotions for Young Women: A Book Review

Beloved: 365 Devotions for Young Women is a topical devotional that uses the inspiring stories of girls and women in the Bible—such as Ruth, Esther, Mary, and Abigail—to encourage faith and confidence as well as provide insight into topics like relationships, inner beauty, and chasing your dreams.

Each day features an easy-to-read, relevant devotion paired with a scripture verse about a biblical girl or woman, as well as journaling space to help readers reflect on the day’s message. With honest, poignant, and sometimes humorous text, every page will speak to the pressures and changes girls face, giving them real-world applications to find God in their hearts and in their lives. Perfect for everyday use, Beloved will resonate with girls searching for truth and guidance. Gift givers will love this highly designed book featuring a beautiful, foiled cover, two-color interior pages, and a ribbon marker.

My Review: What a beautiful devotional! I love the design and size of this book. I believe this is the first time I’ve seen a daily devotional written specifically for young women and I think it is fantastic.

This book has 365 devotions, one for every day of the year and each devotion highlights inspiring stories from women and girls of the bible. What an awesome way for young women to connect more with the women of the bible as well as discover more about themselves as women and their relationship with God and others. Each devotional includes a scripture, devotion and a space for note taking or prayer.

This would make an excellent gift for young women. Highly recommended.

*I received a copy of this book free of charge from Handlebar in exchange for my honest review.

The Christmas Remedy by Cindy Woodsmall & Erin Woodsmall: A Book Review

About The Christmas Remedy

When an Old Order Amish woman takes a job at a small-town pharmacy struggling to survive in a world of “big box” stores, her motive is to help her Plain community. But the advent of the holiday season brings an unusual mystery to the surface–and possibly love.

Twenty-four-year-old Holly Zook lives a unique life for a young Amish woman. Years ago, her bishop allowed her to continue her education and become the lead technician for Greene’s Pharmacy, an old-timey drugstore that looks out for the Amish community–a group largely without secure healthcare plans. She knows she can’t marry and hold onto her professional job. She’s Amish, and she can only have one or the other, so she spurns love and works toward addressing treatable diseases–like the one that claimed her father’s life.

As long as Holly continues to avoid Joshua Smucker, the one man who draws her like a warm hearth in winter, she should be fine. When something unexpected threatens Greene’s Pharmacy, Holly and Joshua must work together to unravel what’s happened and find the “missing” patient before the Board of Pharmacy shuts them down. As the snows of December arrive, with Christmas in the air, will Holly succumb to the generous spirit of the season?

My Review: I always love a good, cozy Christmas story and I had hoped that this early-season read would be just the thing to kick off my Christmas reading this year. I have to say I was kinda disappointed in that regard. It just didn’t feel like a Christmas story to me. The novel centers around a pharmacy crisis, and while the story was kinda interesting, it just wasn’t enough.

I really liked the main character, Holly and I loved the relationship she shared with the pharmacist, Lyle. Though he was not a blood relative, he was like a father to her and I love that the book recognizes the validity and depth of relationships between people that aren’t related by blood. Close relationships and family are not always blood.

All in all, this was a decent read with likable characters and an okay story. It did nothing to kick off my Christmas reading, but it was a quick little read that I enjoyed.

#PRHpartner

*I received a copy of this book free of charge from Waterbrook/Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.