Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe Book Review

I love having the opportunity to read inspirational books from BookLookBloggers.com.  This last month I choose a book called Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe by Max Lucado with Candace Lee & Eric Newman.  

What I loved about the book was the mystery and possibilities of the main character.  The story focuses around this woman that has left her Football star husband as he cheated on her.  Her mother passed away and left her coffee shop to her daughter.  She loves to bake and has moved into her mother’s home with the coffee shop with her two kids.  The older son is frustrated as he wants his parents to work things out.  She finds out she has a large tax debt that her mother never paid and her troubles begin.  Her estranged spouse still wants to be with her and work things out but she can’t see this ever happening.  Throughout the book there is this man that helps in different ways.  She had a hired helper that quit and he just happened to show up and be able to work for her.  The book shared how this special person was her guardian angel.  He was to protect her and keep her safe.  As the cafe struggled to survive with the tax debt and the few patrons she didn’t know how she was going to stay open.  The competition offered free wifi and she didn’t have this capability until one night this vendor came in and said that she could use their globe wifi for a few months.  She accepted and the cafe began to prosper but the funny thing was that the internet only offered one website.  It was a blog written by God and you were able to ask one question.  Each person that came in had the opportunity to ask any question they wanted on the blog and they would get a response.  People started coming from all around to see the answers that were offered and try and figure out who was behind this blog site.  What I liked about the story was how the family situations were shared and they were so realistic.  I could really feel the frustration and anxieties when she was dealing with her business and her personal life.  Another thing I thought was interesting was how the book explained the guardian angels role and that he didn’t always have all the answers but was there when she needed him.  All she had to do was ask or pray.  Trust was a big issue throughout the book and I would say made the most impact in the novel.  I would recommend reading this book when you have some free time this summer! 

Thanks for stopping by, leave me a comment and your blog and I'll be sure to visit.

xoxo,

Nicole Flothe

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Barefoot Summer Book Review

I was given the opportunity to review Barefoot Summer (A Chapel Springs Romance) a romance novel from Booksneeze.  I loved the title. It fit perfectly as I was looking for a good romance while I enjoyed my summer holiday.  

Here is the book description:

Madison’s heart has been closed for years. But one summer can change everything.

In the years since her twin brother’s drowning, Madison McKinley has struggled to put it behind her. Despite the support of her close-knit family and her gratifying job as a veterinarian in their riverside town, the loss still haunts her.

To find closure, Madison sets out to fulfill her brother’s dream of winning the town’s annual regatta. But first she has to learn to sail, and fast.

Beckett O’Reilly knows Madison is out of his league, but someone neglected to tell his heart. Now she needs his help—and he’ll give it, because he owes her far more than she’ll ever know.

Madison will do anything—even work with the infamous Beckett O’Reilly—to reach her goal. And as much as she’d like to deny it, the chemistry between them is electrifying. As summer wanes, her feelings for him grow and a fledgling faith takes root in her heart.

But Beckett harbors a secret that will test the limits of their new love. Can their romance survive summer’s challenges? And will achieving her brother’s dream give Madison the peace she desperately seeks?

I loved being able to read the book on my iPhone and using the bookmark feature along with the highlights.  One of the things I like to highlight is wherever the author uses the word heart.  Here is one that I loved:

Her mom gave her a long, knowing look.  The kind that made Madison realize that she could shutter off her heart to the outside world, but Mom would still see right through. 

When I was growing up my parents would send us to my grandparents house for the summer.  We took sailing lessons at the yacht club and when Madison was learning to sail it brought back a lot of memories for me.  The photo below is from my cousin Tara, her son is now taking sailing lessons at Hudson Yacht Club, such an amazing experience.  

Another part of the book I really enjoyed was the times she took pets to the nursing homes.

"Animals make people happy.  Besides, I like the folks here.  Older people are storehouses of wisdom.  It's too bad people forget that."

I think most of us could relate to the story, throughout the book you learn how her brother died and why she had so many relationship issues.   Her mother was a great influence and I seemed to highlight what she said a lot.

Her mom's words from earlier in the summer came back, "You've always been afraid of feeling, Madison.  Sometimes those negative feelings are so strong, they're overwhelming, and it's easier to just not deal with them." 

I was rooting for Madison to be brave and courageous during her struggles.  She had trouble sleeping, learning a new skill, being in love and making decisions that would benefit her life.  

God knew her heart.

You can do this, Madison.  Be brave.

Give me courage, God.

If you're looking for your next great romance novel and a heartfelt story, make sure you add this one to your list!

Denise Hunter is the award-winning and best-selling author of many novels, including A Cowboy's Touch and Sweetwater Gap.  She and her husband are raising three boys in Indiana.

Visit her website at www.denisehunterbooks.com

Amazon:
Barefoot Summer (A Chapel Springs Romance)

My Favorite 15 Quotes from 'A Confident Heart' book by Renee Swope

One of my friends on Facebook, Melissa Haupt, shared that she was reading A Confident Heart, How to Stop Doubting Yourself & Live in the Security of God's Promises.  The book sounded very interesting to me so I contacted the publisher at www.reneeswope.com. I wanted an opportunity to review the book and include a giveaway to our Heartbeat Magazine readers.  They were so sweet and soon I had the book at my doorstep.  I loved how Renee entwined stories from the bible with her every day life. When she had struggles, she was able to see how the people from the bible overcame their obstacles and we could too.  She also ended each chapter with a review of what lessons were discussed,  how to apply it in our life, and then finished with a prayer.

Here are 15 of my favorite quotes throughout the book...

1.  Whatever you have done, or will do, God still loves you and he forgives you.

2.  God's Spirit will convict you, but his heart will never condemn you.

3.  Find the gold in our children.

4.  Mining for gold in the heart of our children.

5.  God never intended for us to compete with each other.  He wants us to complete one another, celebrating & encouraging each other's strengths while discovering who he created us to be.  

6.  Think about the things that make your heart come alive.

7.  Your heart is the core of who you are, the truest you.

8.  Eliminating constraints or excuses often reveals our heart's desire.

9.  "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." - Prov. 4:23NLT

10.  Psalm 37:4 says to "take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

11.  But just as a target is designed to narrow the aim of an arrow, God uses the desires of our hearts to narrow the focus of where He wants our lives to make a mark for eternity.

12.  You have something to offer that can make a difference in others' lives.

13.  It is important to focus on what we have instead of what we don't have.

14.  A woman with a confident heart chooses to believe that God wants to make an impact through her life, and she looks for ways to let him.

15.  Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

I have truly enjoyed reading the book and would love to share it with someone that is looking to learn about developing A Confident Heart!  Enter as often as you like and I hope you win:)

xoxo,

Nicole Flothe

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Remembering 9:11 in Bible Verses Book Giveaway

In honor of September 11th, I wanted to offer a Giveaway of "Remembering 9:11 in Bible Verses."  

It's a book dedicated to those families and people directly affected.  I went through the chapters of the Bible and took verses that have 9:11.

My hope is that you find special meaning in these verses. 

Here is one of the verses...

Nehemiah 9:11

You divided the sea before them that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone in mighty waters. 

If you'd like a copy you can order one for $14.99.  $5.00 of each book sale will be going to foundations for families like Cantor Relief Fund, that were directly involved with 9:11.  

We should share, we should care, and we should REMEMBER!

xoxo,

Nicole

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Stand By Me Book Review

My Rating 4 out of 5
Stand By Me is a book by Neta Jackson, she writes about two women from different lifestyles that end up helping each other in ways they never thought possible.

Here is a great Book Description:

Sometimes the person you most need is the one least like you.

Kathryn Davies is a bright young woman from a prominent Phoenix family. But after making a leap of faith at a Christian music fest, dropping out of med school, and moving to inner city Chicago, her family has all but disowned her. Kat’s enthusiasm for her newfound faith tempers the sting of their rejection.

When Kat discovers SouledOut Community Church, she longs to become a part of the multi-cultural church family. But her tendency to say whatever she’s thinking and her eccentric ways step on the toes of nearly everyone she meets—especially Avis Douglass, a woman she admires but who seems distant.

Avis is known for her mature faith and her reliance on listening to God more than people. Married to a kind and successful businessman, she is the principal of one of Chicago’s highest performing elementary schools, and a founding and active member of SouledOut. But the country’s economic downturn has thrown both her and her husband’s jobs in question. And Avis hasn’t heard from her youngest daughter in months—an estrangement that gnaws at her every day. Where is God in all this?

Kat’s flamboyant zeal for living a “radical” Christian life is a stark contrast to Avis’s quiet crisis of faith. But in God’s own mysterious ways, the two women discover they need each other in ways neither of them expected.

Read more about author Neta Jackson.

The three things I liked about the book...

1.  I enjoyed the deep story plot and how each woman was able to figure out their struggles and trust in God to help them.

2.  It was fun viewing the life of a college student again, it's been a while and it brought back memories of my apartment hunting and sharing costs with friends.

3.  When Avis lost her earrings that her husband gave her and didn't want to tell him it made me reflect on what I hold on to at times and should just share right away instead of making the situation more frustrating.

All in all, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others to read.  The only thing that was a bit slow for me was there are a lot of pages to read.  But as a Book lover, I can tolerate a good book any day!

xoxo,

Nicole Flothe

(I was privileged to do this book review for Booksneeze.com)

3 Giveaways, two Autographed books and a $25 gift card

We love a great giveaway, and we love even more several great giveaways!

1.  Shelly Aristizabal is offering her new book"This is Your Year to Design the Life of Your Dreams."

Dream your life and live your dream! Take the next 365 days to read Shelly Aristizabal's new book "This is Your Year"  to design & begin to live  the life of your dreams.   Shelly  is excited to share with you the motivational wisdom from some of  the greatest Thought Leaders who inspired her to pursue and fulfill her Big Dreams! Don't wait for some day, one day, begin today! 

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2.  Rita Baker is offering her new book "Beyond The Creek."  

Cedar Key native and lifelong supporter of the Arts, Rita Baker has brought to life the ideals and core values of yesteryear in her debut book, BEYOND THE CREEK.


Inspired by the writings of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Rita brought to life an adventurous story filled with humor and love. Please enjoy the narration of young Emma Charles as she journals her way beyond the creek.


"Reading: the essential educational tool a child must aquire and enjoy." ~ Rita Baker


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3.  $25 Gift Card Giveaway from Hair Design by Avantgarde.

"DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!" hair design by AVANTGARDE is a modern, contemporary, upscale full-service Salon providing services to both ladies and gentlemen with an artistic atmosphere in Naples, Florida.

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God's Design for Abundance Book Giveaway

Excited about the path God is revealing in her life, Kristina shares her insights on Abundance. If you are struggling with scarcity in any area of your life - finances, relationships, time, health, etc - don’t miss out on this insightful, honest reflection of Kristina’s journey of breaking through these strongholds.

Enter our Giveaway for a chance to win Kristina's Book...

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