I have been blessed to be on three book launch teams over the last two months. And let me tell you these were some fun books to read. A book about summer camp, a book about a church group and a book about love and loss. Three incredible authors allowed me early access to their books and let me tell the world what I think of the books. While I've reviewed the books on websites like Amazon and Goodreads I hadn't told you, my blog readers about these books...and that would be doing you a disservice. Because, these were good books. We can always use a good book or three to read in the summer right? Well, let me tell you about these books a bit. I'll give you my honest review!

The Last Summer at Eden by Christina Hergenrader

Synopsis: Eden, a summer camp in southern California, has hit rock-bottom with low enrollment, a tight budget, and burned-out staff. Can it be saved? Maybe not. This novel incorporates contemporary themes with a traditional good-versus-bad trope for a satisfying read that promotes biblical truths of Gods constancy and provision.

My review: Get read to be whisked away to camp. You can almost smell the campfire, swat the mosquitoes and taste the s'mores (with peanut butter cups of course) as you are taken back to relive you memories of camp or make new ones with Poppi, Jake and the whole crew. This book will leave you with a smile on your face, a tear in your eye and hope in your heart.


The Harvest Raise by Katie Schuermann

My review: I recently moved to a new town, one much like Bradbury, in which my life has many similarities to the main characters in The Harvest Raise. But after moving and leaving behind some very good friends this book made me relive those emotions again. It brought me right into the living rooms, backyards and driveways of these beloved friends. I feel like I am having to say goodbye all over again to a great group of friends whom I have grown to love and whom I wish I could meet in real life. The characters are easy to relate with and their story is so down to earth. You will love wandering through the streets of Bradbury with your new friends. You will laugh with them, learn with them and discover more things about yourself than you ever thought possible from a novel.

I was NOT on the launch team for these next two books but they are part 1 and 2 of the Anthems of Zion series and you really need to read the series as a whole. It's just THAT good!!

House of Living Stones by Katie Schuermann (book 1 in the Anthems of Zion series)
Synopsis: In the small Illinois town of Bradbury, change doesn't come often, and it certainly doesn't come easily. So when Pastor Fletcher hires Emily Duke as the new choir director at Zion Lutheran Church, he unknowingly sets in motion a chain of events that turns the life of his congregation upside down.

The crusty church secretary, Mrs. Scheinberg, must learn to adjust her curmudgeonly ways. Zion's talented but pompous organist, Evan Ebner, must recognize his shortcomings. Emily must come to terms with her past. Even Pastor Fletcher must face reality when his world is shaken by the baggage Emily brings and by the handsome Zachary Brandt who pursues her.

With its host of lovable and relatable characters, House of Living Stones will find a special place on your bookshelf and in your heart.
My review: Takes me to a time and place where I can rename the characters to people I know in the flesh. She writes with such a fresh perspective and clear characters that you can't help but fall in love with because they are all so familiar. What a wonderful story about a small town with a strong Lutheran church. Even if you're not Lutheran I can guess you'd find yourself shaking your head because you would be able to recognize some of the characters from your own church.


The Choir Immortal by Katie Schuermann (book 2 in the Anthems of Zion series)

Synopsis: The people of Zion are at it again. Two of their very own are getting married, and everyone is pleased as punch to be hosting Bradbury’s wedding of the century. Their collective joy is short-lived, however, as busted air-conditioners, melting cakes, and a trip to the emergency room intrude upon the celebration.

Yet the congregation rallies. Lead by Pastor Fletcher and the stalwart Mrs. Scheinberg, they turn in faith to God’s promises of life and salvation to see one another through trying days that demand patience, prayer, and perhaps another batch of cinnamon rolls.

Emily Duke, Pastor Fletcher, and the rest of Zion’s quirky flock return in this compelling sequel to House of Living Stones, proving that life in a small-town is anything but small. 
My review: Once again the characters come to live and you feel as though you've known them your whole life. Katie is not afraid to tell it like it is and deal with the tough issues. Make sure you've got your tissues ready because this book hits on the raw, hard to deal with emotions time and again. You will fall in love with their stories even more as you return to Bradbury again!

On Loves Gentle Shore by Liz Johnson (Prince Edwards Island Dreams book #3)
My review: When you need to read a book that will leave you with hope in humanity and the ability to know that not everything goes right ALL the time then this is the book you need to read. Natalie is a lovable, yet confused woman who will have you cheering for her from the beginning. You may even begin to see some of your own traits mirrored in hers. As you read this tale of love and honesty you will be taken away on an adventure that not only leaves you wanting to visit Prince Edward Island but also makes you want to become friends with the lively characters portrayed within these pages.

I also got to be on the launch team for books 1 and 2 of this series and shared them here at some point but let me share them again.

The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson (Prince Edward Island Dreams book 1)

Seth Sloane didn't move three thousand miles to work on his uncle's B&B so he could babysit a woman with a taste for expensive antiques and a bewildering habit of jumping every time he brushes past her. He came to help restore the old Victorian--and to forget about the fiancée who broke his heart.
The only thing Marie and Seth agree on is that getting the Red Door Inn ready to open in just three months will take everything they've got. Can these two wounded souls find hope, healing, and perhaps a bit of romance on this beautiful island?

Step into the Red Door Inn, a lovely home away from home tucked along the north shore of fabled Prince Edward Island. It's a place where the wounded come to heal, the broken find forgiveness, and the lonely find a family. Won't you stay for the season?

Here are my answers to the discussion from the book Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt. You can see the discussion of others at The Simple Wife.

1. In the first short section of chapter 2, Hunt talks about the second-pivotal principle of spiritual mothering: that our life-purpose is to glorify God. The driving force of any spiritual mothering relationship is not the relationship, but God's glory. How does this alter/change/influence/affect what you've thought so far about this topic? Does it change how you perceive this kind of mentoring? If so, how? I guess when I first thought about mentoring I didn't think about it being for God's glory. I immediately thought that two people would learn new things, experience highs and lows together, pray and grow in their faith. My thoughts were not that the sole purpose of the relationship was to bring glory to God...but it only makes sense. Isn't every relationship that we are part of solely because of our creator God? Isn't the reason that we live and breathe is to bring God glory. It just makes sense that the mentoring relationship's "premier purspose" is to bring God glory. This changes how I perceive this kind of mentoring a little bit. Because it just goes to show that it's all about God. That He will ordain the relationship and make it happen, blossom and end at His time. How awesome that once again I am left saying, "it's a good thing that God is God and I am not!"

2. Much of the chapter examines Mary. "I fear that too often we do not hold Mary up as an example, because we are overcompensating for some who have elevated her above humanity. This robs us of one of the most beautiful examples of faith found in Scripture...In Mary we do see a woman who embraced God's glory as her reason for being and translated that into her experience" (page 26).
What struck you fresh about Mary's story after reading this chapter? I am SO glad that Hunt started out with that quote above. It's SO true (expecially in the Lutheran church) that we are almost afraid to talk about Mary because we don't want to be seen "elevating" Mary to a status similar to that of Jesus. I loved all the points that Hunt made about Mary's faith and obedience to Christ. So often we just think of her as a teenage mother to Jesus but she was so much more than just a mother. She was a great example of obedience and unswerving faith in Christ. Yes, I'm sure she had questions and maybe even doubts but she let her faith in Christ trump all questions. She was ready to reflect God's glory right back to Him.

3. Hunt made a couple of statements about Mary's response to the angel:
"This young woman handled the situation without her brain or her emotions being scrambled" (page 27).
"This was no emotional reaction but rather a deliberate and logical response based upon the character and promises of God" (page 28).
How do these statements compare to how you typically respond to something? Are you more on the side of being scrambled, or more deliberate and logical? I feel that too often I make split second reactions and do not think before I speak. I know that I more often than not live a scrambled life moving from one thing to the next with barely a thought about it. I wish that my life reflected a more deliberate and thought out logical response to things that life throws at me. Sometimes I do react in this way on the outside but my mind is a scrambled mess thinking of what has to happen next.
How does/should having a life-purpose of glorifying God and an identity of being the Lord's servant affect our response any kind of situation? My first thought should be "does this glorify God?" If I cannot honestly answer yes to that question then I need to stop, back out, change direction, whatever it may be so that my response to situations can bring glory solely to God and not to myself or others around me.

4. On page 32, Hunt distinguishes between confidence based on our identity in Christ and self-confidence. How do you see these as being different? I think these are very different for I feel that I have confidence in Christ but lack self-confidence. You'd think that if you are confident in Christ that self-confidence would follow but I am still working on that. I desire to have such confidence in Christ that I am able to get rid of the self-centered characteristics that I posses. Sometimes when I am lacking the self-confidence I feel that I am not truly portraying my life of faith. If I don't have confidence in the person that Christ made me to be how can I display my faith in Him and His creation to others. This is an area of my life that I feel I need a lot of work on. Confidence in Christ will give me self-confidence that is not arrogant or offensive.
5. If you had to pick a sentence or a phrase from this chapter to write on your bathroom mirror to see each and every day, what would you pick? Why? "God's grace enables us to know our mission in life and empowers us to fulfill our mission." Awesome. Thanks be to God for His unending grace. Now I will know my mission and by His grace I can fulfill my mission. I also love, "servitude simplifies life". I'm in a stage of my life where I really crave the simple things. I crave a simplified life and this little quote could not have put it into perspective any better.
6. Anything else you want to add, highlight, or ask everyone else to answer? Have at it! "Once God's glory is our purpose, then we have a center point to which we can relate each decision and each situation." I love this quote but also want to know....what does that look like in real life?

I want to take part in the discussions that The Simple Wife is having so I'm posting those questions here so I can join in. Feel free to skip this post if it doesn't interest you. As you can do with any post I suppose :)

1. Susan Hunt defines spiritual mothering as this: "When a woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman in order to encourage and equip her to live for God's glory." What stands out to you in this definition? Why? Does this seem different from a typical mentoring definition? Why, or why not? I think there are three things that stick out to me the most, "spiritual maturity" a "nurturing relationship" and "encourage and equip". It's not necessarily about age but spiritual maturity. That can mean a number of different things. I love that the relationship is all about nurturing. It's really about being a mother (but obviously in a different aspect than your actual mother). And encouraging and equipping is so awesome. That's what it's all about. It's not about telling her what to do, or telling her that the mistakes she made are too huge to do anything about. It's about being right there with her and encouraging the roles and relationships that she's in and through your life stories equipping her for the road ahead.

2. Beginning on page 18, Hunt talks about our need for mothering. How do you see this need among women you know? In your own life? Not only do I see the need for mothering but also the need to have a mother or a "mother-substitue" as Susan puts it. I feel that need very strongly right now. I live 1300 miles away from my mother, this is the first time I've ever lived farther away than I can drive in one day. I feel the need for my mother or a "mother-substitute" from time to time. I need the face to face time and I long for someone to hold my hand and tell me I'm doing okay and my kids won't have too much to tell their therapists when they get older.

I also feel the need for mothering. Not only do I have small children and I am blessed to be able to "mother" them but I also see a huge need in our church. I know these young women would truly be blessed and find a spiritual mother to be a huge benefit in their lives. Their young minds are so easily influenced by the world around them and I know they would reap many blessings from being in a mentoring relationship with some of the "spiritual giants" that are sitting in the pews at our specific church (and many others I am sure).

I know that I would greatly benefit from a spiritual mentor. As a pastor's wife there are many roles that I play and many unspoken expectations (I don't feel burdened by our particular church probably more by myself) that are around that I feel the need to have someone take me by the hand and show me how to live fully for Christ each and everyday. The life of a Pastor's wife can be a lonely one and I'm not sure that anyone other than another Pastor's wife would even understand it so I think that is one criteria for me in my search for a Spiritual Mother.

3. What's something that you underlined, highlighted, circled, starred, or drew arrows to in this chapter? Why did it stand out to you? "These women belive God's Word is the only infallible rule for faith and practice, and they are committed to living out God's truth in the daily occurences of their lives. These women believe in and live by prayer." Yes, praise God for the women who will stand for nothing but real truth and real faith in a living God. Praise God for their faithfulness to prayer. I long to be counted among those women someday. I have a long way to go to be at that place but it is my prayer that I would move a little step closer each and everyday.

I'm really enjoying this book and cannot wait to see what the other women post about it. It's a great thing to learn more about and although I "hated" school it's good to be learning again!