Sacred Mundane by Kari Patterson (Book Review!)

Sacred Mundane: How to Find Freedom, Purpose, and Joy

by Kari Patterson

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Nonfiction / Religion / Christian Life / Spiritual Growth

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2017

Number of pages- 216

Age Group- Adult (Women)

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $15.99, ISBN 978-0-5254-4447-0

Do you wish your life was more?  Are you feeling trapped in all the of the day-to-day tasks?  This book is designed to help you realize that your daily tasks are to build you and others up.  You need to focus on Jesus and and the spiritual strength he’ll give you. 

This book has chapters that have been given specific words to help you grow.

• Let (in)
• Look
• Listen
• Engage
• Embrace
• Trust
• Thank
• Let (out)   

Sacred Mundane also inlude a small group study section, notes, and more about Kari Patterson.

About the Author-

Kari Patterson’s royalties from Sacred Mundane will go to World Vision and their work with women and children.  She is a mentor, Bible teacher, homeschool mom, and wife of a pastor.  She can be reached at www.karipatterson.com.  She is also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

My thoughts-

As I read and studied this book, I found that I was learning a lot about really becoming peaceful in the life that I have.  I need to be active about reading the Bible, praying, and letting Jesus into my life.  If I do that, then I will find joy and peace in everything I do and show it to everyone I meet. 

• I liked all of the personal stories from Patterson.  It helped show me how hard it has been for her and how it takes a lot of effort to become peaceful when life doesn’t go as planned.
• Almost all books have their study questions or small group study sections at the end of the book.  I enjoy having those sections at the end of the chapter, because I’m able to easily find the questions while I’m reading the chapter.  I think that with this small group study that it was nice that it was at the end, because I could concentrate on reading the chapter and not worry at the time about what I need to do with the study (which was very thorough and helpful).

I know of other women who would gain a lot of understanding and peace during and after they have read about being able to live peacefully and happily in a life that seems mundane.  I would recommend this book to them and those I haven’t had the pleasure to meet.  It would also be perfect for small group studies.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Sacred Mundane: How to Find Freedom, Purpose, and Joy, by Kari Patterson, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Soldier Who Killed a King by David Kitz (Book Review!)

The Soldier Who Killed a King

by David Kitz

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Fiction / Christian / Historical

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2017

Number of pages- 286

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4485-2

David Kitz has written an intriguing novel from a different perspective of the Holy Week. 

Marcus Longinus is the centurion who is in charge of keeping the streets free from rebellion, because of the king who arrived on the back of a donkey.  King Herod, the Jewish high priest Caiaphas, and Pontius Pilate are all players in this final week of Jesus’s life.  This book shows the plotting of King Herod and the confrontations between Caiaphas and Pontius Pilate.  Marcus spends time with Jesus and begins to change his mind.

Will he change his mind about the man everyone is talking about or will he think the same as Caiaphas  

About the Author-

David Kitz has written Little Frogging Explores the BIG World and Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven and Earth.  He is an outreach minister with Foursquare Church and a Bible dramatist.

My thoughts-

I thought a book that was about Jesus’s death would make me feel a lot more emotional, but this book didn’t.  It could be that since it was written from a man’s point-of-view, there wasn’t as much emotion as there would be if it was written from a woman’s point-of-view.  I think that men would like this book more than women, since it was written from Marcus Longinus’s point-of-view.

I liked how well each character was written, and I especially liked the eiplogue which talked more about the main characters of Herod Antipas, Joseph Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate, Jesus, and the centurion.     

I would recommend this book.  It has an interesting perspective from that of the Romans.  It is also a good book for those who want to learn more about Jesus and the week leading up to His resurection.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Soldier Who Killed a King, by David Kitz, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Captivating Lady Charlotte by Carolyn Miller (Book Review!)

The Captivating Lady Charlotte

Regency Brides A Legacy of Grace, Book 2

by Carolyn Miller

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Fiction / Christian / Romance

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2017

Number of pages- 310

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4451-7

Lady Charlotte Featherington wishes to marry for love.  Her father wants her to marry a widowed duke, not the man she thinks she loves. 

The widowed ninth Duke of Hartington is still hurting from his first marriage, which ended in scandal.  He doesn’t know if he can trust the young lady in their arranged marriage.  He feels as if he will never be able to trust her and any relationships she may have with other men.

These two will have to learn to trust each other.  If they don’t her mother and others will tear apart their relationship forever.

About the Author-

Carolyn Miller currently lives in Australia with her husband and children and has long enjoyed Regency Romance.  She is a member of the Australian Christian Writers and the American Christian Fiction Writers.  Her website is www.carolynmillerauthor.com

My thoughts-

Many stories have characters we love because they are so sweet like Lavinia and Charlotte.  There are also those characters who we love to dislike, because of their actions and attitudes.  This book had Charlotte’s mother and William’s sister.  William’s sister was simply trying to protect her brother and Charlotte’s mother was everything society expected her to be.  She reminded me of Mrs. Oleson from Little House on the Prairie. 

I was impressed how Carolyn Miller wrote those characters and all the rest of the characters.  She made the Duke, William, a person who didn’t go with what society expected.  He took an active interest in his lands and the improvements that needed to be made.  Charlotte and Lavinia were also memorable characters, because of the way they cared about others and pulled on their faith in God when trouble came.

This was a great book in the series.  I always enjoy reading a romance novel that also draws on the strength of God.  I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey. 

I recommend it!    

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Captivating Lady Charlotte, by Carolyn Miller, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.