Book Recommendation - Messy to Meaningful: My Purse Runneth Over

Do you ever feel like you're carrying too much? Not just in your purse, but also in life. If so, have I got a book for you! This book, written by 3 hilarious but spiritually adept ladies, uses each chapter to compare some item from your purse to a life lesson. While most of this is not actually "new" information if you've been in a relationship with Jesus for any period of time, they're great reminders that pack a solid punch and bring us back to the basics. 

Here's a blurb about the book:

Got Baggage?

Ever find yourself lugging around messy spiritual baggage like so much purse clutter?
Sometimes that baggage runneth over and shows up in:

That utterly overwhelmed feeling

Anxiousness and stress

Anger, fear, discontentment

Feelings of failure and a lack of peace

Let's stop holding on to what we don't need, and start fighting for what we do. Learn to walk out your faith life less weighed down. Lighter, FREER than ever!

Not only free, but our powerful God wants you to live in a gracious overflow--

A LIFE OF PURPOSE RUNNING OVER WITH GLORIOUS MEANING

This book is currently available, so check it out at your favorite book retailers! For more information, check out the following sites:

Monica Schmelter's website: https://monicaschmelter.com/

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3826726063?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Book recommendation - The Curator's Daughter

 

When it comes to heart-rending dual timeline tales that include WWII as one timeline, Melanie Dobson is a go-to author. This book was another great example of her writing skills! The historical timeline for this book takes place in Nuremberg Germany, which gave it a unique perspective as it also included the trials after the war, which is something you don't often read about. The modern timeline included cult information on current Aryan Nation groups in the US. This is also something you don't often hear about as other forms of racism are more "prominent" in the news, but it's something that is still relevant. This book was eye-opening for many reasons and still an enjoyable read. Filled with mystery, great characters, and a wonderful redemption story-line, this is one I'd strongly recommend.

Here's a little bit about the book:

A young girl, kidnapped on the eve of World War II, changes the lives of a German archaeologist forced into the Nazi Party and―decades later―a researcher trying to overcome her own trauma.

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Hanna Tillich cherishes her work as an archaeologist for the Third Reich, searching for the Holy Grail and other artifacts to bolster evidence of a master Aryan race. But when she is reassigned to work as a museum curator in Nuremberg, then forced to marry an SS officer and adopt a young girl, Hanna begins to see behind the Nazi facade. A prayer labyrinth becomes a storehouse for Hanna’s secrets, but as she comes to love Lilly as her own daughter, she fears that what she’s hiding―and what she begins to uncover―could put them both in mortal danger.

Eighty years later, Ember Ellis is a Holocaust researcher intent on confronting hatred toward the Jewish people and other minorities. She reconnects with a former teacher on Martha’s Vineyard after she learns that Mrs. Kiehl’s mother once worked with the Nazi Ahnenerbe. And yet, Mrs. Kiehl describes her mother as “a friend to the Jewish people.” Wondering how both could be true, Ember helps Mrs. Kiehl regain her fractured childhood memories of World War II while at the same time confronting the heartache of her own secret past―and the person who wants to silence Ember forever.

This book releases on March 9. 2021. For more information, check out the following links:

Melanie Dobson's website: https://melaniedobson.com/ 

Melanie Dobson's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MelanieDobsonFiction 

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3824238115 

Book Recommendation - The Orchard House

 If you enjoy dual timeline stories with deep and heavy topics, but that offer hope, Heidi Chiavaroli is an author you would enjoy. Her past books have dealt with school shootings, abandonment, and broken marriages. Her latest novel, taking place in Concord, MA (home of Louisa May Alcott), speaks to equal rights, foster care, and domestic abuse. This novel was excellent and flowed seamlessly between the timelines, bringing hope to both sets of characters. This is women's fiction I would definitely recommend. 

Here's a little bit about the book:

2001

Abandoned by her own family, Taylor is determined not to mess up her chance at joining the home of her best friend, Victoria Bennett. But despite attending summer camp at Louis May Alcott's historic Orchard House with Victoria and sharing dreams of becoming famous authors, Taylor struggles to fit in. As she enters college and begins dating, it feels like Taylor is finally finding her place and some stability...until Victoria's betrayal changes everything.

 

1865

While Louisa May Alcott is off traveling the world, Johanna Suhre accepts a job tending Louisa's aging parents and their home in Concord. Soon after arriving at Orchard House, Johanna meets Nathan Bancroft and, ignoring Louisa's words of caution, falls in love and accepts Nathan's proposal. But before long, Johanna experiences her husband's dark side, and she can't hide the bruises that appear.

 

2019

After receiving news of Lorraine Bennett's cancer diagnosis, Taylor knows she must return home to see her adoptive mother again. Now a successful author, Taylor is determined to spend little time in Concord. Yet she becomes drawn into the story of a woman who lived there centuries before. And through her story, Taylor may just find forgiveness and a place to belong.

This book comes out February 9, 2021 and is available now for pre-order wherever you buy books! Check out the links below for additional information:

Heidi Chiavaroli's website: http://www.heidichiavaroli.com/ 

Heidi Chiavaroli's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HeidiChiavaroli.Author 

My full 5-star review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3805682184