Who is my Shelter? By Neta Jackson

I received this book from booksneeze.com for my honest review of this book.

Book Description:
Every woman needs a safe shelter.

The tables have turned and Gabby's estranged husband--who threw her out when she didn't live up to his image of a "corporate wife"--needs her in a way neither ever expected. He's begging for reconciliation, but Gabby has moved on, finding purpose and a future in the House of Hope. Not only has she found shelter for herself and her sons there, but she's able to help provide shelter for homeless moms and their kids.

And yet . . . there's a hole in her life. Is God leading Gabby down a new path and giving her something--and someone--new? Or is He redeeming what she thought was gone forever?

Neta Jackson was the first Christian Fiction Author I ever read. I began my journey with Yada Yada Prayer Group and now have ended with Who is my Shelter. Yada Yada prayer group series ended at Book 7 but spun off into the House of Hope Series. In this series we journey with Gabby Fairbanks, a stay at home who is wealthy move from Virginia with her husband Philip and her sons. Soon after they move into their penthouse, Gabby encounters Lucy, a homeless woman, who Gabby brings back to the house to shower and clean up. In the middle of this her husband, his business partner and his wife all come over and this starts a series of events. Gabby took Lucy to Manna House, a homeless shelter where Lucy stays and she gets offered a job. The ball starts rolling in Gabby's life that ends with Philip kicking Gabby, her mother, and Dandy(her mothers dog) out of the penthouse to fend for themselves. Gabby had to pick up the pieces and start a new life for herself and her children. In Who is my Shelter, Gabby is now the proud owner of House of Hope, a second stage housing for homeless women and their children. She is happy. Gabby has moved on with her life.

And as life always happens Philip hits rock bottom with Gambling and such. Philip now has to make changes in his life or he might not live. Gabby is there, reluctantly at first, to help him. With the help of the Baxters and Harry Bentley Philip starts to see the errors of his ways. Also we see a lot of our favorite characters lives start to mold into what they should. I don't want to give away the whole book but it will not disappoint.

I have always enjoyed Neta Jackson's books and this one was awesome. Her characters are so real that you can relate to their lives, it isn't a feel good everyone lives happily ever after thing. We see everyone has ups and downs, every marriage has its problem, life is fixed by quoting a bible verse. You see that God works in all different situations, even messes. The power of prayer and the belief that God will bring you through are big themes throughout the book and also leaning on one another. This book is a beautiful story of healing, rebirth, and how God can make miracles out of messes. I highly recommend this book as well as the others in her series. You won't be disappointed. Can't wait to see what is next!!

The Rhythm of Secrets By Patti Lacy

I received this book from Litfuse for my honest review this book.

About the book: Since 1955, Sheila Franklin, a talented musician, has perfectly performed the role of devout pastor’s wife, locking away her past as Sheba Alexander and Sylvia Allen. Her carefully constructed façade crumbles with a single phone call from a young Marine named Samuel, the illegitimate son she secretly put up for adoption. Samuel begs Sheila to use her government contacts to get his fiancé, Mali , a Thai prostitute, into America . A dangerous mixture of love and guilt spurs her to help her only child even though it devastates her husband Edward and exposes her questionable past. After a quarrel with Edward, Sheila and Samuel board a C-130 for Thailand and then search Bangkok ’s steamy streets for a Madonna-faced prostitute. The two whisk Mali from a brothel but are seized by a warlord who considers Mali his “number one girl.” In a teak “ghost house,” Sheila discovers God’s grace and gains the freedom she needs to find her own identity—Sheila, Sylvia, and Sheba . A framed story, this novel has roots in the bohemian 1940s New Orleans French Quarter and spans three decades, including the turbulent Vietnam era.

The Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy is a beautiful story about forgiveness, righting wrongs,depending on God, and ultimately love. Shelia Franklin has worked very hard to keep her past as Sheba Alexander and Sylvia Allen locked far away, but one phone call brings it all crashing down. Shelia has to decide what is most important, her life with her husband, Edward, or helping her son. As Shelia makes these life changing choices she also has to face the past she has tried so hard to forget.

Patti Lacy draws you into the world of her characters. They are so real and their trials and triumps feel like you are right there to experience them yourself. This book truly takes you on the journey with Shelia through her life. This book has suspense, action, and romance. This haunting tale is beautiful. I highly recommend this book and this author. I look forward to reading more books by Patti Lacy.

About Patti: Baylor graduate, taught community college humanities until God called her to span seas and secrets in her novels, An Irishwoman's Tale and What the Bayou Saw. She has two grown children and a dog named Laura. She and her husband can be seen jog-walking the streets of Normal , Illinois , an amazing place to live for a woman born in a car. For more information, visit Patti's website at www.pattilacy.com, her blog at www.pattilacy.com/blog, and her Facebook daily Artbites.

Patti Lacy is celebrating the release of her latest book with a NOOK Giveaway, blog tour and Book Club Party!

Follow the blog tour and read the reviews!

Patti and her publisher, Kregel Publications, are giving away a NOOK prize package worth over $150 to one lucky winner!!!! 

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While the World Watched by Carolyn Maull Mckinstry

I received this book from Tyndale publishing to read and give my humble opinion on.
Book Description:
On September 15, 1963, a Klan-planted bomb went off in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Fourteen-year-old Carolyn Maull was just a few feet away when the bomb exploded, killing four of her friends in the girl’s rest room she had just exited. It was one of the seminal moments in the Civil Rights movement, a sad day in American history . . . and the turning point in a young girl’s life.
While the World Watched is a poignant and gripping eyewitness account of life in the Jim Crow South—from the bombings, riots and assassinations to the historic marches and triumphs that characterized the Civil Rights movement.
A uniquely moving exploration of how racial relations have evolved over the past 5 decades, While the World Watched is an incredible testament to how far we’ve come and how far we have yet to go.

While the World Watched is a book my Carolyn Maull Mckinstry, a survivor of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing on Sept 15, 1963. Carolyn lost 4 teenage friends that day when a bomb went off where the girls were. Carolyn had just been by them a minute before and could have died with them. Carolyn grew up in Birmingham(Bombingham) Alabama during the Jim Crow laws and the start of the Civil rights moment. Until the bombing Carolyn had no idea the segregation and hate going on. In her family the laws were the rules of their home and when she questioned why she couldn't go somewhere her parents would state, "Because we don't have the money." Her parents sheltered her as much as possible from this. But after Sept 15th, 1963 her life changed dramatically. This story tells of the journey Carolyn took. The lasting affects this bombing and the other things she experienced in Birmingham, Alabama goes on until this day. The one thing Carolyn tried very hard to do was cling to Jesus. Carolyn's faith rarely wavered. Carolyn Mckinstry is a survivor in all senses of the word.
While the World Watched gives the unique viewpoints of not just a child but a first hand account of the bombing, a personal account of how these events effected her whole life. I enjoyed this book a lot. I had a little bit of a hard time following sometimes because there was a lot of date jumping in spots but it definitely did not take away from the story. This book was about non violence, peace, love, and ultimately forgiveness. Also in this book were speeches and quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr,whom Carolyn got to hear and speak to first hand, speeches and quotes also from John and Bobby Kennedy. This book is a must read for the young and old about a time in our history that is very important to know about. I highly recommend this book.