"Give the Lady a Ride" by Linda W. Yezak

Patricia Talbert is a high class social co-ordinator from New York and a city girl at heart. Talon Carlson is a ranch foreman and champion bull rider from Texas, your typical Western guy. Will opposites attract when their worlds collide?

Give the Lady a Ride by Linda W. Yezak is a modern Western romance and a fun culture clash. Patricia Talbert has just inherited the ranch that Talon Carlson runs. But her mission to sell the ranch is derailed when she discovers not only a few family secrets on the ranch, but that she has a deep attraction to Talon. Knowing that the attraction may be mutual, she decides to buy herself some extra time on the ranch by issuing Talon a challenge - she wants him to teach her how to ride bulls.

I am a city girl at heart so I can definitely relate to Patricia's hesitation regarding the ranch at first. That sort of stuff is not on my radar. But Linda W. Yezak's writing pulled me right in from the start and never let me go. I quickly found myself falling for the ranch life. The writing is wonderful in that it made an unfamiliar world come alive without making it too simplistic.

This is a Christian novel and the story has the right amount of faith in it. It's not in your face and it's not preachy, but it is an important part of the story. The faith of the characters is not forced or stereotypical, it's a real faith and I really appreciated that about this book.

Give the Lady a Ride is a fun novel that takes you inside a fast-paced and down-home world. It is a great read and if you're looking for a funny, sweet Christian story this is one you should definitely pick up.

I would like to thank the author, Linda W. Yezak for providing me with a copy of this book.

"How to Study Your Bible" by Kay Arthur

From the back cover:

What is inductive study? It's a revolutionary approach to directly interacting with God's Word - and letting it speak for itself - in a way so personal, so memorable, that every insight you gain will be yours for life. How to Study Your Bible is a dynamic guide to cultivating step-by-step Bible study skills such as observation, interpretation, application, and more - skills that mean the difference between being a passive spectator and an active participant in God's Word!

Kay Arthur, along with her husband, is the founder of Precept Ministries International, an organization that promotes their unique, inductive method for studying the Bible. How to Study Your Bible is the book that gives you an introduction and overview to this method. Inductive study uses only the Bible as your source of information and requires a willingness to slow down and dig deep into what the Scripture is saying.

I have just begun using this book and using the method for Bible study. So far I am very impressed with the method. It is easy to understand and really does get you deep into the Scripture. You'll find yourself noticing things you haven't before. I have quite a few friends who highly recommend this method and says that it has really changed their way of reading the Bible and has helped increase their knowledge of Scripture greatly.

There is also a companion workbook titled The New How to Study Your Bible: Discover the Life-Changing Approach to God's Word. It provides exercises that will help you put into practice what you have read in the book. If you're looking for a new way of studying your Bible, wanting to dig deeper, or looking for a starting point, I recommend giving the Inductive method a try.

"The Last Woman Standing" by Tia McCollors

Four years after their marriage ended due to career demands, Ace and Lynette Bowers are finding that their love never disappeared and their attraction is stronger than ever. This should be good news for Ace and Lynette as well as their two teenage daughters. Unfortunately, there is someone else in the picture.

Ace's current girlfriend Sheila Rushmore is used to getting what she wants, except for the one thing she wants the most - a marriage proposal from Ace. When she realizes that this may be because of Lynette, Sheila decides that rather than listening to what God wants for her she is going to do whatever it takes to keep Ace by her side.

The Last Woman Standing by Tia McCollors is a wonderful novel which looks at the importance of listening to what God wants for your life and following His plan, even when you are unsure of what it is or if it goes against what you want. Ace and Lynette find themselves being pushed together even though they remember the painful reasons why they broke up in the first place. And Sheila finds herself going to terrible lengths to keep Ace even though she can see all signs are pointing him toward Lynette. Putting everything in God's hands can be tough but the rewards come when we trust Him.

I really enjoyed this novel. It is a great story that keeps you interested and even though you can see what is going to happen in the end, you keep reading to find out what is going to happen next. The lessons are expertly crafted, not preachy or in your face, but strong enough to have you reflecting on your own life. Fans of Urban Christian fiction will enjoy this one and I think so will fans of any Christian fiction.

"Behind the Veils of Yemen" by Audra Grace Shelby

Earlier this year Yemen was thrust into the world spotlight as its citizens joined other Middle Eastern countries in rising up against the government, demanding reform. Through the media, the world began to see a country that is in the heart of conservative Islam, a country where less than two per cent of the population are non-Muslim. But deep inside this country are people working to bring the message of Jesus to all who need to hear it. Audra Grace Shelby was one of those people.

In Behind the Veils of Yemen, Shelby shares the story of how, along with her husband and three young children, she left her comfortable life in the United States to begin anew in a country that adhered to strict Islamic law and where evangelism was forbidden. Motivated by the desire to share the love of Jesus, they placed all of their faith and trust in Him and began a tough but rewarding mission.

This book is a very interesting look at what missions are like in the Muslim world. Many people could not understand why the Shelby's would take their children to Yemen and risk their safety. But they felt a pull to this part of the world, especially Audra who felt compelled to get to know the women of Yemen, to find out who the women behind the veils are.

The stories that Audra shares are wonderful. She was welcomed into Yemeni culture and many women were eager to form a friendship with her. However, she found that these women, while curious, weren't as eager to hear her talk about Jesus. Audra shares how her time was spent communing with these women and eventually being able to share her faith with the women.

This isn't a story of conversions or celebrations of large numbers of people coming to Christ. But it is an inspiring story of how missions and evangelism to the Muslim world and Muslim people are best done - through friendships. It is also a story of placing your trust in God and knowing that even when you feel completely lost and unsure, He will always carry you through and use you for His purpose.

"Married Mom, Solo Parent" by Carla Anne Coroy *Blog Tour*

About the Book:

For married women who feel like single parents.

Bookstore shelves are full of parenting resources for moms who are newly divorced or widowed. But where do moms turn if they feel like a single parent--but they’re not? Whether he is away on business, deployed in the military, or obsessing over a computer game, dad may not be available for a variety of reasons. Moms who parent in this situation still need help and don’t necessarily relate to the advice given in divorce recovery or single parenting resources.

Married Mom, Solo Parent is a common-sense, down-to-earth look at the struggles wives and mothers face when their husband is not actively involved in family life. Writing from her own experience as a married single mom, Carla Anne Coroy will help wives and mothers sort through their questions, such as: Can I do this alone? How do I raise kids to honour their father? How do I give my children a healthy perspective of marriage if they never see one in action? With practical suggestions, anecdotes, and biblical teaching, this book will encourage moms to see their position as a high calling, to find healing for their worries and frustrations, and to tap into God’s strength for help in facing the daily challenge of being a married mom, solo parent.

My Review:

This is an incredible book. If you are a married woman who is a solo parent I highly suggest you go out and pick up this book right now. The married single mom is a place in life that doesn't seem to get much attention. They don't have the same concerns as married women whose partners are highly involved in the homes, but they also don't quite fit in with the singe women who don't have the fathers involved in the home at all. The married single mom has concerns that differ from other moms but must not be overlooked.

The book is easy to read, helpful and full of practical ideas. Carla Anne Coroy has been in this position and she writes straight from experience. Her story and the many others she includes in this book will help you realize that you are not alone and most importantly help you through the most difficult times.

Even if you are not a married single mom this book is a good read. It will give you helpful ideas to keep your home running smoothly. But the most important thing you can take away from this book is knowing what the married single mom faces each day and how easy it is for her to be overlooked. It help you understand how you can do your part to help things run smoothly for her.

About the Author:

Carla Anne Coroy runs the Married Single Mom blog at www.carlaannecoroy.blogspot.com. She speaks regularly and serves as a staff writer for an online Christian women’s magazine Mentoring Moments for Christian Women. Carla Anne lives in Canada with her husband and four homeschooled children. For more information, visit www.carlaanne.com.

Come to an encouraging MomChat party on Facebook…you could win a KindleTouch!

To celebrate the release of her new book Carla has partnered with her publisher, Kregel, to host a live MomChat party on Facebook!

The party will wrap up the blog tour (http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13420715) and Carla will be hosting an encouraging MomChat about all things mom and wife related. There will also be a fun contest and she’s giving away a KindleTouch and a ton of other fun stuff (books, gift certificates and more!).

So RSVP today and then come back on 10/25 at 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern for the party.

Don't miss the fun ... and tell your friends.

"The Blessing" by John Trent and Gary Smalley

Every child longs for one specific gift from their parents. "The blessing" is unconditional love and approval which comes from a healthy relationship with ones parents. This gift is what sets us up for life, and it is the blessing that determines our emotional well-being as adults. Receiving the blessing sets us up for a deep sense of self-worth and positivity. Not receiving the blessing can lead to emotional troubles and difficult relationships.

In The Blessing: Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance John Trent and Gary Smalley share how parents can make the blessing a bigger part of their families and prepare their children for a positive future. The book also goes beyond parenting and helps those who have missed out on the blessing "reverse the curse" and find blessing in their own lives.

The book is divided into four sections - why the blessing is so important, understanding the blessing, when the blessing doesn't happen and living the blessing challenge. Each chapter contains short, easy-to-read chapters that will help the reader connect the subject matter to their own lives and families. The book is filled with content from real-life stories, to ideas, questions and exercises to links for online resources.

The Blessing is made up of five essential elements: meaningful touch, a spoken message, attaching high value, picturing a special future, and an active commitment. As parents we may already be incorporating these things into our relationships with our children, but reading this book will show you exactly how important they are. It will show you the Biblical basis for them and help encourage and guide you to live out the blessing every single day.

I received this book courtesy of Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze Program. The opinions expressed above are purely my own.