The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews

"The Butterfly Effect" is the newest book out by Andy Andrews. It is a short gift book but filled with a powerful story. It will probably take you ten minutes to read, but it will be a book you will want to read over and over. The book got it's name from the theory by Edward Lorenz that "A butterfly could flap its winds and set molecules of air in motion, which would move other molecules of air, in turn moving more molecules of air--eventually capable of starting a hurricane on the other side of the planet." Applying this theory to humans, what would be the outcome of decisions that we make? Is it possible that the small decisions that we make could greatly impact the life of someone else? Is it possible that these decisions could change the world?

"The Butterfly Effect" tells real life stories that changed the course of history. It shows how the decisions we make really do matter. My favorite quote from the book really hits home. "Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created in order to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world."

"The Butterfly Effect" is available today, Wednesday, September 7! This is the perfect book to give as gifts and perfect to leave on your coffee table. This book could change your life and ultimately change the world.


This book was sent to me by Thomas Nelson Publisher as part of their book review program. I was sent a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed are my own.

Love Is A Flame Compiled by James Stuart Bell

Love is a Flame is a compiled book of stories of marriage and how love can be rekindled in a marriage even after the most difficult situations. We all have this concept that if we love each other that marriage will be easy. If only marriage was that simple. The truth is marriage is hard and there are many disappointments that go along with the vow to love and cherish. You might never have expected your spouse to be a workaholic or to have that affair. You probably didn't expect your spouse to struggle with sexual sin or to simply not communicate his/her feelings. How about unreasonable expecations you have for your spouse or expecting your spouse to meet all your needs? How do you restore a marriage after you've been hurt by your spouse? Is it even possible? James Stuart Bell tells the stories of couples who have been through some difficult situations and had to deal with some major hurts. Most importantly, he tells the story of how that couple was able to restore their marriage and rekindle the love. I think that part is so important for people to know. That it is possible. It might not be easy, but the marriage can be saved. And what happens after restoration is a marriage that is even stronger and even better than before.

This is a great book of stories of the real struggles that real couples face. At the end of each story, the author ends with a few words of his own. I really think that this is a great book for all married couples to read and probably to read on a regular basis. There is so much wisdom that can be gained from hearing of other's struggles and how they overcame. Most importantly, I think this book will really give encouragement and hope to marriages that are currently struggling and possibly thinking of the "D" word.

This book was sent to me by Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review program. I was sent a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed are my own.

No More Christian Nice Girl by Paul Coughlin & Jennifer Degler

"No More Christian Nice Girl: When Just Being Nice-Instead of Good- Hurts You, Your Family, and Your Friends" bu Paul Coughlin & Jennifer D. Degler, Ph.D.

Christian women can really get in a habit of being too nice. I think there is a stigma that we have to be all and do all for others or else we are just not being a good Christian. We get in a rut of feeling obligated to say "yes" to anyone that needs help and serve on every committee at church. What happens is we get over worked and over stressed. This ends up hurting not only ourselves, but our family and close relationships.

There is a way out of the "People Pleasing" rut. This book offers some good and practical advice to first see why we Christian women feel these obligations to "be nice" and then offers some good suggestions. I really like that they tell stories of a Christian Nice Girl and a Christian Good Girl. This really helps the reader to see themselves in the Christian Nice Girl's pleasing habits and learn to make changes. This book does a great job of really showing how setting boundaries and our expectations of ourselves can help us really live out our Christian faith and still be a great witness for Christ.

I think this is a good starter book for women who are pleasers. I would suggest that if you want further reading on this topic to consider reading Kevin Leman's book "Women Who Try To Hard" and Cloud and Townsend's book "Boundaries". These books really focus on how to set boundaries (and why they are necessary) and to learn to be a positive pleaser.

This book was sent to me by Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review program. I was sent a free copy to review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinion expressed is my own.

She Walks In Beauty by Siri Mitchell

Set during New York's gilded age, "She Walks in Beauty" shows the pressure young women faced to meet family expectations of marrying well. They not only had to learn appropriate social etiquette, but also secret fan gestures, proper dance steps, and wear that torturous corset. This story follows Clara Carter as she is forced into the social season a year early just so she can try to win the hand of one of the wealthiest heirs. Clara had dreams of going to college and had secretly hoped to skip the social season all together.

Amazingly, Clara goes from a shy girl to a beautiful, confident woman. She becomes the societies hottest debutante and has a really good shot at securing a proposal from the most sought after bachelor. But Clara is also a romantic, and struggles with following her family's demands or following her heart.

This book will make you think about true beauty. During this period of time, there was so much focus on looking outwardly beautiful even if there were health consequences. This is eerily similar to the period of time that we are living in now. It is amazing what we will do to look and feel beautify when it is inner beauty that really should define us.

This was one of the best fiction books that I have read in awhile. Once I started reading, I could not put the book down. I will definitely be reading more of Siri Mitchell's books.

This book was sent to me by Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review program. I was sent a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed are my own.

Somewhere to Belong by Judith Miller

Somewhere to Belong is about two girls who become fast friends. Berta Schumacher has been moved to Main Amana, a cooperative living, simple lifestyle community by her parents. She had lived a life of luxury in Chicago and it is a complete shock to have to live in a village with extreme structure. Johanna Ilg has been raised her entire life in Main Amana. The rules and the structure is all that she has known. Until she discovers a secret about her life, that makes her question who she really is and if Amana is where she really belongs.

This was a very interesting book. The author did a great job of developing the characters and really getting you into the book. I really enjoyed the story line but really did not like the setting (Main Amana). It is supposed to be a cooperative living, utopian, type village. It makes you think it is Amish, but there are some differences from the Amish communities. A family is assigned a living space/apartment, with several families living in one house. Every person is assigned a duty that requires them to work 7 days a week. All of this is decided by the "Bruderrat" community elders. There is a communal eating house where men sit separately from the women. It is said that it is better to be single than married, even though people can marry. It is such a controlled environment, it almost seems cultish.

Outside of the whole utopian community, I really enjoyed the stories of Berti and Johanna. This was my first book to read by Judith Miller. Somewhere to Belong is in a series called Daughters of Amana. I will probably not read any of these books.

This book was sent to me by Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review program. I was sent a free copy of this book to review.

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Wilson

Sixteen women head to Plum Grove, Nebraska with hopes of free land and a fresh start. What they find out is they have been tricked and are actually to be brides for the local bachelors. Six of the women decide to show the con-artist that they are self-sufficient and refuse to be claimed by a man. These women begin the journey of a lifetime. This was a wonderful story of hope, forgiveness, love, and new beginnings. The author does a great job of intertwinning the story and lives of the six main characters. You begin to truly admire each of the women as the band together to create a new life for themselves. While homesteading is hard work, they come up with a creative plan to buy four plots of land to homestead and put one house that sits on a corner of each plot. This way they share the work and bounty and create a new life. This was a great book with a great storyline.

This book was sent to me by Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review program. I was sent a free copy of this book to review.

Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr

Elvira (Ellie) Kilmer is almost homeless and in much need of a job. When an opportunity comes to serve as housekeeper for a local widower, Jackson Smith, and his two young sons, she welcomes the opportunity. When Jackson offers an very unusual proposal to Ellie, she must decide if she is willing to marry without love in order to have a place to live and the chance to raise Jackson's sons. Hearts Awakening is an interesting story with some unexpected twists. The books draws you in right from the beginning and leads you through a wonderful story of two people who are so different yet so much alike. You won't be disappointed in this book.

This book was sent to me by Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review program. I was sent a free copy of this book to review.