The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo (Daughters of the Mayflower series book 7)

History has always been a draw for me when picking a book to read. I love to learn more about different time periods and have fun reading a good fiction novel at the same time. And this book, The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo did not disappoint. This is the 7th book to come out in the Daughters of the Mayflower series and each of these books have been written by many great authors in christian fiction.

From the Back Cover:
Descended from Mayflower pilgrims and well-versed in the healing powers of herbs and plants, Ellis Valmont has grown up in the territory owned by Mexico but claimed as their own by the Texians who settled it. Now war has pulled all the available men from their town into battle, leaving Ellis and others like her to defend their homes.
Caring for a wounded New Orleans Grey, comrades in arms to the Texians and Tejanos, is something Ellis does without question in the fall of 1835.  Until that wounded Grey's fevered ramblings reveal secrets no Grey should have. Secrets that could affect not only the cause for freedom but also the lives of those Ellis holds dear.
Clay Gentry knows he is obligated to complete a mission that he cannot recall due to a head injury. Ellis Valmont knows more about his past than she is willing to tell. Will they realize they fight on the same side of the war with Mexico before all is lost?

My Thoughts:
 I loved this story. It was moving, mysterious, and full of danger. I learned many new things about life in Texas, and it brought the story of the Alamo to life. I appreciated the author's research for the novel, and also the research she included at the back of the book for further reading. I love it when an author tells the reader which parts of the story are true to history and which may of been "bent" in order to fit the author's timeline. The characters drew me into the story and had me rooting for hope even though all seemed lost. This book was a great addition to The Daughters of the Mayflower series and I look forward to reading the 8th book, The Golden Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse coming in April 2019 and the 9th book, The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse coming in July 2019.
If you're looking for a good wholesome series that will take you back through our nation's history, then pick up The Daughter of the Mayflower series! Visit the website by clicking here.

My Rating: ★★★★★
 

***I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Camp Club Girls 4-in-1 Mystery Collection: Bailey by Linda Carlblom

Are you looking for a christian series for your tween (ages 8-12) that would be fun, clean, and involve some intriguing mystery? Barbour Books has a series called the Camp Club Girls. This series first released back in 2010. The book that started it all was Mystery at Discovery Lake where 6 girls from all over the United States become friends and solve a mystery together. These girls stay in touch and end up solving many different mysteries calling themselves the Camp Club Girls.
Barbour books has re-released these books combining 4 mysteries into 1 book and dividing them by the girl who is leading the current investigation.

I was able to get a copy of their newest release, Camp Club Girls 4-in-1 Mystery Collection: Bailey. This book included 3 older stories and 1 brand new story. These are the titles that are included:
1. Bailey's Estes Park Excitement (2010)
2. Bailey's Peoria Problem (2010)
3. Bailey and the Santa Fe Secret (2011)
4. Bailey and the Florida Mermaid Park Mystery (2019)

I thought that the stories were fun and kept my interest throughout the book as the girls tried to solve the mystery. I appreciate that the stories are wholesome and clean stories that I can give my daughter to read. If you're wanting to start at the beginning when the girls all meet each other and form the group, then you'll need to pick up the Camp Club Girls 4-in-1 Mystery Collection: Elizabeth by Renae Brumbaugh Green.

So if you're looking for some good reading material a tween who enjoys a good mystery, take a look at the Camp Club Girls books.

My Rating: ★★★★

***I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Made for the Journey: One Missionary's First Year in the Jungles of Ecuador by Elisabeth Elliot

Elisabeth Elliot is one name that is well known especially in the Christian community. Jim Elliot, Elisabeth's husband, was murdered along with 4 other missionaries while trying to evangelize the Huaorani people in Ecuador. But before Elisabeth Elliot became a household name and a wife to Jim, she spent a year in the jungles of Ecuador with 3 other women missionaries reaching out to the Colorado people while trying to learn their language and put it into written form.
This book, Made for the Journey, is a memoir of her first year living as a missionary in Ecuador. This book was previously published under the name These Strange Ashes.

 I enjoyed reading through this book as Elisabeth Elliot described her entry into the life of mission work in Ecuador. Her story is enlightening for those who have not had the opportunity to serve on the mission field. As a missionary kid myself, I could identify with her feelings as she left her homeland, faced adversity, and tried to adjust to a foreign culture.  This book was an easy read and the author did a great job moving the story along and holding my interest. I also thought Revell Publishing did a great job with the updated cover and the name change for the book.

If you have not read this book by Elisabeth Elliot, I would encourage you to pick it up and add it to your home library. It will challenge your thinking and give you a different perspective on missionary life.

My Rating: ★★★★★

***I received this complimentary book from Revell Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul by Hannah Anderson

Have you ever read a book where you thought, "Wow, I'm going to have to read back through this again and again to think through all that the author brought out?" This is Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul by Hannah Anderson! I picked this book up from Moody Publishers because I thought the title was interesting, and I liked the book cover. I had no idea that this book would touch my heart in such a profound way.

From the Back Cover:
Feeling worn thin? Come find rest.
Nestled in the simple rhythms of rural life, taking cues from forsythia, milkweed, and wild blackberries, Hannah Anderson meditates on the pursuit of peace and its natural companion, humility.
Part theology of incarnation, part stroll through fields and forest, Humble Roots reveals how cultivating humility--not scheduling or increased productivity--leads to true peace. By remembering who you are and Who you aren't, you can discover afresh your need for God and the rest that comes from belonging to Him.
So come. Consider the lilies of the field, and learn humility from Christ Himself.

My Thoughts:
I don't think I've ever underlined so much in a book. Every chapter had so much depth and wisdom that pointed to Christ and our need for Him. I loved how Hannah wove in Scripture to back her points and included examples from nature that so beautifully explained her thoughts.  Hannah addresses so many ways that we are overtaken with pride in our lives. When I see pride in my own life, I feel like it is a wily weed that I keep chopping off, but the root continues to live.  But there is hope in learning to live in humility by learning more of Christ. "The goal of Humble Roots is to understand how pride manifests itself in anxiety and restlessness; and how humility frees us from the cycle of stress, performance, and competition." (pg. 12)

These are just a few of the statements that Hannah made that impacted me:

"For years, I've heard that the solution to such stress comes from setting up boundaries, finding ways to be more productive, cultivating gratitude, and scheduling 'me-time.' For years, I've believed that finding rest comes from both simultaneously learning to let go and keeping your act together. For years, I've thought that my sense of peace depends entirely on me.  ...peace doesn't start with me; peace starts with Him. Even more surprisingly, peace starts with learning His humility." (pgs 9-10)

" Here is the real source of our anxiety and stress. Here is the root of our unhappiness: The rest that Jesus offers only comes when we humble ourselves and submit to Him." (pg. 37)

"Part of the problem is that we misunderstand the nature of both pride and humility. We tend to think of pride as something we can conquer and of humility as something we can attain... But humility is not a commodity. It is not something you can achieve. it is not something you earn or accomplish. Being humble is something you either are or you aren't." (pg. 51)

This is just a small sampling of the truth shared in this book. If you are looking for something new to read and encourage you in the truth of God's Word, then pick up Hannah Anderson's book, Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul. It's a great book to add to your library! Hannah has two other books, Made for More: An Invitation to Live in God's Image and a new book just out last year called, All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment. You can find out more about her by clicking here to visit her website.

My Rating: ★★★★★

About the Author:

Hannah Anderson lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she works beside her husband in rural ministry and cares for their three children. She is the author of Made for More: An Invitation to Live in God's Image and regularly writes and speaks about faith, culture, and spiritual formation. You can find more of her work at sometimesalight.com.










***I received this complimentary book from Moody Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.